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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 2025).

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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).
Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

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

Monday, April 24, 2023

Breaking news - R.I.P. Steve Horowitz

It is with the deepest sadness that I have to report that Steve Horowitz passed away today after a long battle with cancer.

Steve, known to BSH readers as Steve H, contributed many album and gig reviews which were always perceptive and frequently with a humorous sting in the tail.

We shared a love of jazz, not always in total agreement, football, never in total agreement and real ale, always in total agreement!

I will forever be thankful for his contributions to BSH which began in 2013 but, even more so, I will cherish his friendship.

Our condolences go out to Sandra - Sandra and Steve were a lovely couple and so supportive of the music.

The photo shows Steve (right) with bandleader Colin Aitchison when they met up at Ned Kelly's in Hong Kong in 2018.

Very sadly missed. Lance (and all at BSH)

More to follow re funeral etc...

6 comments :

Russell said...

Steve will be sorely missed. We often talked beer, football (Brentford and Newcastle) and jazz, sometimes all at the same time!

JC said...

Very sad to hear the news about Steve.
I used to meet him and Sandra regularly at gigs, particularly at the fondly remembered Splinter sessions at the Bridge, and they were always very welcoming and open to chats about many different topics as well as jazz.
We discovered we were both BSH reviewers when I added a slightly idiosyncratic comment to one of his (as Lance says always interesting) reviews which he took in good spirit. From then on I knew I had found a new friend.

Sincere condolences to Sandra.

JC

Keith Barrett (on F/b) said...

Very sad to hear that. Thanks for the notice

Steve T said...

Such sad news. I saw him at the Ant Law/ Hitchcock gig at the Bridge where he told me what was going on with him but I had no idea his time remaining was to be so short. We didn't always agree on music either but I recognised his passion and I felt a particular affinity with him since he was the reason Lance re-christened me Steve T. As has been said, a lovely couple and Newcastle Jazz will miss him very much.

Ann Alex said...

It's always sad when one of the writing team leaves us. Happy memories.

Ken Drew said...


Very sad to hear the news about Steve. He'll always be remembered through meeting him at many Jazz gigs around Newcastle, and his BSH contributions too. Sincere condolences to Sandra and family.

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