Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18982 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 846 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 8.) 25.

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

From This Moment On

October.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 4:45pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
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.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 15: Leah Kirk: A Strange Affair @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Leah Kirk (vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 15: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. PJO w. guest Graham Hardy (trumpet).

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year to make welcome return to NAC (Wolverhampton) with new project

(Press release)

Newhampton Arts Centre is to welcome internationally renowned artists to their Spring season of Jazz. The programme launches this February with one of most talked about young musicians in contemporary jazz, Xhosa Cole.

The band would be a brand new ensemble ‘Rhythm-a-ting’ exploring the compositions of Thelonious Monk with the Xhosa Cole fingerprint, perfect for a live setting.

Gathering an all-star lineup for this show, Xhosa Cole will play tenor sax, sharing the stage on 18th February with Steve Saunders on guitar, Josh Vadiveloo playing double bass, Nathan England Jones on drums and Liberty Styles on tap dance.

The appearance of his quartet - on a 20-date national tour - was another scoop for the NAC and the promotional organisation Jazz In Wolverhampton back in early 2020 when he played to a full house at the centre.

Handsworth-born Xhosa Cole is an embodiment of the success of numerous community arts programmes in the West Midlands. Having first played the tenor at Andy Hamilton’s Ladywood Community Music School, he’s now the latest in a long line of Birmingham Saxophonists.

After his win in 2018 at BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year, Xhosa Cole is known to be deeply passionate about the jazz tradition and this love is reflected in his breath-taking performances.

“Xhosa’s performance was so heartfelt, sincere and communicative. It’s easy to see he has such a deep and genuine love of the tradition." - Iain Ballamy who was on the jury at BBC Young Musician Jazz Award, November 2018.

Xhosa Cole and his quartet will play Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton on Saturday 18th of February at 8pm and tickets are priced £14.50.

Jazz at NAC also continues the spring jazz season with the acclaimed Australian piano trio Trichotomy make their debut at the centre and saxophonist, composer and band leader, Jasmine Myra. Completeing the spring season will be the David Preston Quartet featuring Kit Downes, Seb Rochford & Kevin Glasgow. Further details about all events and tickets can be purchased at www.newhamptonarts.co.uk

(Editor: Sounds good. The Xhosa Cole Quartet will be  at the Globe, Newcastle on March 5. DETAILS)

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