Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, April 25, 2022

Preview: Darlington Jazz Festival (April 29-30)

After an absence of two years and more the Darlington Jazz Festival is Back in the Swing this weekend. It's a leaner event than in the past, however, there is no compromise on quality. Beginning on Friday evening (April 29) in the Dolphin Centre's Central Hall, the mighty Durham Alumni Big Band will be Back in the Swing of things, sharing the evening with the Durham Music Service Big Band. 

The Alumni will be playing some of the charts which were to be played a couple of years ago to commemorate VE Day 75 only for the pandemic to intervene. It's only now that the likes of A Foggy Day in London Town, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Flying Home will, at last, be performed alongside numbers from the pads of Gordon Goodwin, Buddy Rich and Steve Waterman. The evening gets under way at 7:15pm (doors 6:45), £10 at the door or book in advance by calling the Dolphin Centre on 01325 388406. 

Saturday lunchtime (April 30, International Jazz Day!) at Number One Bar is unmissable! Returning as he does every year to his home town, trumpeter Matt Roberts will be playing the music of Miles Davis. Roberts will be focusing on the Prestige years (mid to late fifties) and the great quintet: John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Cuts from Cookin', Relaxin', Steamin' and Workin' will be played by Roberts' all-star band featuring Jim Corry (tenor sax); Martin Longhawn (piano); Myra Brownbridge (double bass) and Sam Gardner (drums). And expect to hear something from Kind of Blue and Milestones. The one musician in Roberts' band which most people will be unfamiliar is Myra Brownbridge. Ms Brownbridge, a recent Trinity Laban graduate, is in the process of building an impressive cv - gigs at Ronnie's and the 606, working with Tony Kofi, Nikki Iles, Norma Winstone and others. If you're in Matt Roberts' band, you can play! 

To kick off the Saturday session at no.1 Skinnergate, Calvert  and the Old Fools will be playing an opening set from noon. What's more, it's free admission all afternoon. Donations are encouraged, so, you know what to do...dig deep! Darlington Jazz Festival is Back in the Swing! Russell
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