Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

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

June

Thu 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 18: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 19: Joe Steels Group @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 19: Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £14.33., £11.16., £8.00.
Fri 19: Martin Litton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 (inc. bf); £6.50 (inc. bf); £15.00 on the door. Solo piano. CANCELLED!
Fri 19: Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Joe Webb support set.
Fri 19: Hot Club du Nord @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Jive Aces: The Roots of Rock & Roll @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00 + bf.

Sat 20: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge. 5:00-6:00pm.
Sat 20: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 20: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Trinity Church, Gosforth, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. NCRO w. guests Dean Stockdale & Nick Ward.

Sun 21: From Lagos to Longbenton: Unity in the Community @ Sunderland Minster. From 1:30pm. Free. A multi-bill Unity in the Community event, inc. From Lagos to Longbenton.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio w. Graham Hardy.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 22: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 23: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, January 01, 2023

January preview

It's a busy start to 2023. Many musicians, promoters and venues are back in the swing, banking on audiences turning out during the long, dark days of January. It's been some time since Martin Bennett last ventured onto BSH's patch. Catch his Old Green River Band at Saltburn Community Hall on Friday 6. The Exchange on Howard Street in North Shields hosts a rare gig by Panharmonia on Sunday 8. It's the toss of a coin on Tuesday 10 - the vocals of Jan Spencelayh (The Forum, Darlington) or the reeds of Alex Clarke (see photo) at the Globe, Newcastle. 

Thursday 12 sees the first album launch of the year at Prohibition Bar on Pink Lane, Newcastle as the Abbie Finn Trio unveils material from the new album, appropriately titled, On Pink Lane

Thursday 19 do you go to the Schooner on South Shore Road, Gateshead to hear the Mo Scott Band or Tom Atkinson's ace band paying homage to Pharoah Sanders at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's HQ on Railway Street? Decisions, decisions. The following day (Friday 20) it's Emma Fisk and James Birkett at Newcastle's Lit & Phil (lunchtime) and in the evening at the Traveller's Rest, Darlington, it's Opus 4 Jazz Club's first promotion of the year featuring pianist Dean Stockdale's excellent Celebrating Oscar set. Dean (pictured) will be working with an all-star line-up, highly recommended. Note, the Lit & Phil concert is sold out. However, it could be worth calling the venue on Tuesday (it's closed on Monday 2) to request that your name be added to the waiting list (0191 232 0192)

Whenever and wherever the Gerry Richardson Quartet is out gigging it should be all but compulsory to be there! One of the great bands, be sure to get along to the Globe on Sunday 22. It's a tenner in advance (book at: www.jazz.coop) or twelve quid on the door. 

Finally, on Friday 27 Durham's Gala Theatre resumes its lunchtime concert series with an appearance by the award-winning Zoë Gilby and her quartet. Call the box office (from Tuesday 3) on 03000 266 600. If you hesitate, likely as not, you'll find it's an advance sell out! By way of contrast, in the evening at the Lit & Phil, Jazz North East presents a heavyweight quartet featuring John DikemanPat ThomasJohn Edwards and Steve Noble. Call the venue from 9:30am Tuesday - 0191 232 0192. Be quick or risk missing out! Russell 

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