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

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).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Album review: Richard Jones Trio - Angle Shades

Richard Jones (piano); Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Johnny Hunter (drums)

Johnny Hunter is a well known visitor to Newcastle having played on many JNE gigs in recent years so it came as no surprise that one of his two compositions on Angle Shades is titled Thursday Afternoon in Newcastle (the other has an equally enigmatic and unexplained title 350 Million Herring.

Richard Jones provided three of his own: Eye's Regret; K.H and Mr. Relaxed whilst Cavanagh-Brierley pitched in with Some Mat

All three musicians were part of Nishla Smith's band when she played the Globe in 2021. The music here is very different giving proof of their adaptability. It's an impromptu affair very much related to the contemporary improv school. 

No recognisable format inasmuch as it's all very much in the moment. To quote Jones... "we wrote ideas and motifs that would encourage each player's creativity and form the basis for improvising as soloists and collectively..."

All were one-take only tracks thus retaining the spontaneity of a live gig and by and large it works.

The album will be released via Efpi on May 12 and will be supported by a tour that kicks off in Sheffield on April 19 although they don't hit the Globe until June 4. Lance

Confirmed dates: The Lescar, Sheffield (April 19); NQ Jazz at The Yard, Manchester (April 24); Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge (April 27); Sela Bar, Leeds (May 9); Pianodrome, Edinburgh (May 13); MAP Studio Café, London (May 21); Leeds Jazz Festival for Fusebox, Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds (May 25); The Globe, Newcastle (June 4); The Spotted Dog, Birmingham July 25)

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