Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Monday, May 01, 2023

Preview: Hexham Jazz Festival (May 12-14)

After a long hiatus Hexham Jazz Festival returned last year and it could be said to have been a resounding success - Hexham Abbey the grand setting, the jazz top quality, the weather kind. The 2023 event is set for the long weekend of Friday 12 - Sunday 14 May. Hexham Abbey will once again play host to a series of concerts with the bonus this year of Queen's Hall, Core Music and the Forum Cinema coming on board.

Concerts in Hexham Abbey will be hosted by Jazz FM's Nigel Williams, beginning at 7:00pm on the Friday with the acclaimed Ushaw Ensemble. Directed by Paul Edis, the star-studded line-up doesn't get together too often, so this is your chance! And at half past eight vocalist Rachel Sutton will be on stage with pianist Roland Perrin, bassist Andy Champion and drummer Steve Hanley.

Saturday's programme includes An Evening with Freddie Benedict. Emerging from a stint with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, vocalist Benedict will be accompanied by pianist Paul Edis, guitarist Jamie McCredie, rising star saxophonist Emma Rawicz, bassist Andy Champion and drummer Steve Hanley. It's a seven o'clock start and at 8:30pm Benedict will step aside as the amazing Jo Harrop joins the quintet to sing a choice selection of material. At 10:30pm DJ Nigel Williams will be on the decks and earlier, during the afternoon, there will be performances in the grounds of Hexham Abbey, let's hope the sun shines!

Sunday's action includes a screening of Ernst Lubitsch's 1921 classic Die Bergkatze (The Wild Cat) in the Forum Cinema with live musical accompaniment composed by Graeme Wilson (reeds). The amiable Scot will be joined by pianist Paul Edis, bassist Paul Susans and drummer Steve Hanley. It's a 3:00pm start, something of a one-off, don't miss it! In the evening the focus shifts to Queen's Hall. Guitarist Joe Steels' Borealis takes to the stage at 7:00pm to perform new music written by its bandleader. It's a classy line-up comprising: Ferg Kilsby, trumpet, Asha Nicholson, vocals, Dan Brown piano, Paul Susans bass, and drummer John Hirst. The festival's headline act - vocalist Claire Martin, accompanied by pianist Jamie Safir - closes the show in what promises to be a memorable evening. 

Core Music on Gilesgate will host masterclass sessions (Freddie Benedict and Emma Rawicz), outdoor performances will attract the jazz fan and non-jazz fan alike, let's hope Hexham Abbey and Queen's Hall are packed to the rafters. Details of a range of ticket prices can be found at: www.queenshall.co.uk. Russell           
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