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

Saturday, October 08, 2022

Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music: Zoë Gilby Trio w. Noel Dennis + John Garner, John Pope + Dilutey Juice @ the Globe - Oct. 2

A brief 5 minutes or so walk from the Lit & Phil to the Globe finds more jazz festival activity. This time a more ‘mainstream’ selection well suited for a Sunday afternoon and the penultimate session of the festival.

Zoë Gilby Trio: Zoe Gilby (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); Noel Dennis (trumpet,  flugelhorn).

First off is the Zoë Gilby Trio with Noel Dennis. No need to mention the perfect delivery from the two main names in the band, but worth mentioning Mark Williams and Andy Champion as providing solid backing, and solid solos when called upon - just like the two main names of the band did!   A nice varied set, both warmly and enthusiastically received.

John Garner (violin); John Pope (bass).

Next up was the duo of John Garner and John Pope with their no holds barred music-making, bringing an unusual line-up of violin and double bass and demonstrating the adaptability and flexibility of the otherwise familiar music they base some of their work on. Their own compositions fit seamlessly into the mix.    

John Garner is one of the most exciting and unusual voices to emerge in recent years, combining immaculate technique with a fearless musicality and free-wheeling improvisational aesthetic. John Pope is a composer, improviser and a (much in demand) bass player. His work explores the boundaries of jazz, free improvisation, rock and experimental music.  Such a combination of skill and experience within the duo gives rise to an exciting interplay with a few frolics and fireworks thrown in for good measure.

Both have played internationally, but they seem at home with a local audience around the Globe who may not have expected to like the music of spontaneous improvisation, or indeed the sonority of a violin paired with a double bass. But crafting some recognisable tunes (including ‘Happy Birthday You Two’)* intertwined with trading phrases and full blown improvisation led to many smiling faces around the audience. A great set, well received.

Dilutey Juice:  Thomas Dixon (sax); Billy Bradshaw (trumpet); Lewis Wilkinson (sousaphone); Ben Fitzgerald (Drums).

Finally, something incredibly energetic - Dilutey Juice!!! They take inspiration from a plethora of influences, from the fast hypnotic rhythms of Afro-beat to the intense euphoria of 90s' dance music - they’re a good-time-brass-party-band!!!  

Juice was created in the summer of 2020 and their reason d’être is to bring positive vibes and dance music to the public.  And so it was – in spades!!  An enthusiastic and high-energy performance was greeted with enthusiastic and energetic applause (and much foot-tapping!).

All bands were bang on schedule like the rest of the Festival (congrats to them and to Wes!).  What an afternoon of lively and entertaining music, leaving with a short respite until the grand Festival finale back at the Lit & Phil. Ken Drew

* Ken Drew & Paul Bream share the same birthday - Editor

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