Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

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

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Mouth of the Tyne Festival Day Two - The Jazz Stage

Yesterday was hot. hot, hot. Today was hot, hot, hot times ten! I was undecided as to whether to take a dip in the sea or to sup copious flagons of ale. It was a tough choice but as the ale looked less choppy than the North Sea I opted for the latter.

Rendezvous Jazz: Maureen Hall (vocal); Gavin Lee (clarinet/alto sax); Herbie Hudson (trombone/harmonica/vocal); Brian Chester (keys); John Robinson (bass); George Davidson (drums/vocals). It was a stomping good start to the afternoon.

River City Jazzmen: Gordon Solomon (trombone); Bob Wade (trumpet): Gavin Lee (clarinet/alto sax); Keith Stephen (guitar/banjo); Phil Rutherford (sousa); Tommy Graham (drums) + Caroline Stephen (vocals). More stomping with the RCJ and a couple of surprise vocals from Caroline. After Hello Central give me Doctor Jazz I half expected to hear an automated message saying "You are number 29 in the queue. Please hold and Doctor Jazz or a member of staff will be with you shortly."

(© Mary B)
House of the Black Gardenia: Elise Rana (vocals/washboard); Pete Tanton (trumpet); Chris Kurgi-Smith (trombone); Keith Armstrong (tenor, alto sax/clarinet); Katja Roberts (violin); Elliott Rush (piano); Michael Littlefield (guitar/ banjo/vocals); Neil Hopper (bass/sousaphone); Giles Holt (drums). The Gardenia's line-up tends to fluctuate these days however, the material doesn't and they always put on a good show although the outdoor setting didn't do them any favours which wasn't helped by the music wafting across from the nearby priory.

(© Mary B)
Classic Swing: Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/alto sax/vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Eddie Bellis (trombone); Jeremy McMurray (keys); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums). Olive had it all to do to hold her own against one Sophie Ellis-Baxter who, over in the aforementioned priory, was dishing out the decibels but Olive and the band coped admirably making for a fitting finale of classic swing. Lance.

PS: Nice to meet up again with Tommy and Lorna Weatherly.

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