Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Friday, July 29, 2022

'58 Jazz Collective @ Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool - July 28

Kevin Eland (trumpet, flugelhorn); Dan Johnson (tenor sax); Django Zazou (trombone, vocals); Dave Archbold (keyboards); Ron Smith (bass guitar); Mark Hawkins (drums) + Jan Spencelayh (vocals)

The Studio on Tower Street used to be home to Musicians Unlimited's weekly Sunday lunchtime session. Now, just across the road, Hops and Cheese is the place to go to hear some jazz. Last Thursday in the month it's the '58 Jazz Collective plus guests. This month the sextet would be joined by vocalist Jan Spencelayh. 

Arriving shortly after the seven thirty start the compact micro pub was doing good business. A handful of empty seats, some familiar faces - Hello, George - and a glance at the beers on the bar...Allendale's Black Grouse the pick. Band MC, Django Zazou, invited Jan Spencelayh to join the boys to sing the first of several numbers, Irving Berlin's Cheek to Cheek. It would soon become apparent that someone - in the band or otherwise - had taken the trouble to arrange the numbers giving the '58 guys a distinctive group sound.  

Hoagy Carmichael's Skylark (lyrics Johnny Mercer), That Ole Devil Called Love, an exposed My Funny Valentine, Jan S was in good form. The band's featured soloists - Kevin Eland and Dan Johnson - were in great form with Eland particularly effective on flugelhorn. It had been a while since BSH last heard tenor man Johnson - probably a Durham Alumni Big Band gig, perhaps a Musician's Unlimited session. It's a pity DJ doesn't get up to BSH's Tyneside base, he'd impress more than a few ears. Jerome Kern's I Won't Dance paired Jan S with the conversational-style vocals of trombonist Django Zazou (now there's a name to conjure with!).

Second set, Sandu, Straight No Chaser featuring knockout solos from Eland and Johnson and an exchange of fours with Mark Hawkins, all good stuff. Jan S returned for more, including a rather good 'S Wonderful. The Hops and Cheese session usually winds up at ten o'clock, your correspondent obliged to make a sharp exit shortly before in order to catch the 22:00 train to Newcastle. The '58 Jazz Collective convenes once a month (last Thursday, seven thirty prompt). It's a 'jar on the bar' arrangement, a contribution of the folding stuff is in order. Russell
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive