Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
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: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Monday, August 29, 2022

Robin Sunflower/Adrian Ingram @ the Railway, Stockport - August 28

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Robin Sunflower (harmonicas); Adrian Ingram (guitar); Haydn Minnet ( guitar); Nick Lunn (bass guitar)

A lot of tunes were played tonight by this unusual combo who covered material by Duke Ellington, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, Toots Thielemans and some standards. Almost all of the tunes featured vocals by Robin who, due to a back problem, performed sitting down in a rather comfortable looking easy chair. This did not impede his harmonica work as he sounded as impressive as ever when he took a solo.

I first became aware of Adrian Ingram when a friend of mine showed me his remarkable biography of the late great Wes Montgomery. Ingram took most of the guitar solos with Minnet taking a supporting role. This was a drummerless group but the swing was maintained by Nick Dunn on bass guitar.


I felt that the first half of this concert was better than the second but this could be because the sound balance seemed to alter. 


I think the numbers that worked the best were I’ve Got the World on a String, Summertime and that old Dixieland stomper - At the Darktown Strutters Ball. 


This outfit certainly pleased the audience and no doubt they will return before too long. 


Next jazz night at the Railway is on  Tuesday Aug 30 with the B Sharps Sax Quartet. Mike Farmer

 

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore. Bluesette; I’m in the Mood For Love; Summer Samba; I’ve Got the World on a String; Hello Little Sunflower; Darktown Strutters Ball; Will You Still Love me Tomorrow?; Song For My Father; Lonesome Road; Take the A Train; Sleepwalk; Indian Nuts.

No comments :

Blog Archive