Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 2026

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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 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

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

(Some) Gigs of the Year 2022.

(© Ken Drew)
These are but a small percentage of my favourite gigs (in no particular order) of 2022. I could easily draw up another list tomorrow that would be, maybe, 75% different!

I've omitted the various festivals such as the Classic Jazz Party, Newcastle Jazz Festival and the Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. Individually they could produce top ten lists of their own and perhaps someone will.

As always, I look forward to receiving your choices. Lance

Liane Carroll @ the Globe (Dec. 4).

Vasilis Xenopoulos/Paul Edis @ the Globe (Oct. 16).

Jo Harrop/Jamie McCredie @ the Globe (Nov. 6).

Dave O'Higgins w. SSBB @ Hoochie Coochie (Oct. 23).

Jazz Defenders @ Hoochie Coochie (April 7).

Jason Isaacs @ Hoochie Coochie (Dec. 11).

Jean Toussaint @ Sage Gateshead (Nov. 27).

Black Swan Jam Session (Nov. 1)

Paul Skerritt @ Westovian Theatre (Oct. 8).

TJ Johnson @ The Lit & Phil (Nov. 18).

3 comments :

Russell said...

Following the editor's lead, festival performances are excluded. King Bees with guest Mick Cantwell (yes, a blues gig!) @ The Hotspur (Feb. 25); Lewis Watson Quartet @ Lit & Phil (Apr.22); Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ The Bridge Hotel (Apr. 28); Jeff Barnhart @ Lit & Phil (Sep. 16); Dave O'Higgins w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Hoochie Coochie (Oct.23); Alan Barnes Octet @ Black Swan (Dec. 10); Paul Edis: A Jazzy Xmas @ Sage Gateshead (Dec. 17).

Russell said...

How could I forget?! Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet (with Ferg Kilsby!) @ The Globe (Oct. 16); Liane Carroll @ The Globe (Dec. 4).

Hugh said...

Must admit I've been to more live classical than Jazz since moving away. A Jazz high light this year was Acoustic Triangle as part of the Swaledale Festival (https://www.swalefest.org/). Next year's festival is set to include Lance's favourite "shantoose" [chanteuse], Claire Martin.

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