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

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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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, January 28, 2023

Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - Jan. 26

Mark Toomey (alto sax); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Peter Ayton (bass guitar); Paul Smith (drums).

Expectations were high for a night of first class jazz from our first guest band of the year - a quartet comprising some of the best jazz musicians in the area.

Mark's up tempo composition, Riff Raff, set the style for the night with solos all round and showing just how well these experienced musicians play together. After the well-known Just Friends, the mood was changed with another composition of Mark's, a beautifully played ballad One Fine Day. Tasteful sax and piano solos from Mark and Jeremy. 

With the excellent backing of Paul on drums and Peter on bass On Green Dolphin Street, gave Mark and Jeremy further opportunity to stretch out.

Another of Mark's compositions was the medium swing You're In Love With Me, followed by It's You or no One, from one of Dexter Gordon’s great Blue Note albums.

The first set was brought to a close with a lovely Latin composition of Mark's I Don't Know What To Say.

The second set opened with Cole Porter’s What Is This Thing Called Love? which included a blistering piano solo from Jeremy.

Hold My Hand, another of Mark's compositions, was followed by Dizzy Gillespie's  A Night in Tunisia, with a nice drum intro.

The Jimmy Van Heusen number It Could Happen to You, was nicely played, again with good solos all round.

The night was then brought to a close with the Latin number Mambo Inn, allowing Paul to show his great drumming skills.

It is always a pleasure to listen to Mark's quartet playing both standards and his own compositions with an appreciative audience at Dorman’s.

Many thanks also to the staff of Dorman’s Club for their help and support with the jazz night. Ron Hampton

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