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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

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 15, 2022

Newcastle Jazz Festival: August 18 - 21

(Press Release)

Now  in   its   fourth   season,  Newcastle   Jazz   Festival returns to Tyne Bank Brewery and other local venues for four days of live jazz from across the region and the UK.

Headliners at this year’s festival include the Ivo Neame Quartet, Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie and Emma Rawicz.

Ivo Neame is an award-winning pianist and composer based in London. At NJF this year he will be joined by three of the UK’s top musicians: George Cowley on tenor sax, Tom Farmer on bass and James Maddren on drums. In addition to leading his own bands, he has featured in several of Europe’s most forward-looking jazz groups and has collaborated with ensembles as diverse as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the London Sinfonietta.

Local heroes Jo Harrop and Jamie McCredie will be joined by a special guest as they bring their duo to NJF on Saturday 20th August. Both originally from the North East, they will be performing music from their album Weathering the Storm which blurs the lines between jazz and folk.

Closing the festival on Sunday 21st August is an award-winning young saxophonist and composer who is already making waves on the UK music scene: Emma Rawicz. She has been described as an astonishing new talent (Jamie Cullum – BBC Radio 2), a force to be reckoned with (Jazzwise) and a fast-rising star (London Jazz News). Emma's influences range from modern jazz and fusion to folk and soul. At the age of 20 she has already recorded and released her first album and is working on a second.

Kicking off the festival on Thursday 18th August at The Bridge Hotel is a free show from Strictly Smokin’ Big Band paying tribute to the great Charles Mingus whose 100th birthday is celebrated this year. Then, Friday at Newcastle Arts Centre, sees the New Orleans vibes of the Northern Monkey Brass Band supported by the Harry Keeble Duo.

The festival then moves to Tyne Bank Brewery where it stays for the remainder of the weekend boasting a plethora of northern jazz including Lindsay Hannon and Alan Law playing the music of Tom Waites, Keith Robinson’s Alter Ego, a tribute to Miles Davis from the Graham Hardy Quartet, Pete Tanton’s Riviera Effect, the Ben Gilbert Trio, local rising stars KNATS, and the David Gray Flextet.

Alongside the music there will be food vendors and the well-stocked bar at TBB!

Festival and day tickets are on sale now from:

www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk

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