Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The Black Swan jam session - May 16

A top class house trio, sitters-in galore, few, if any, students, Esther Coombes an honourable exception, newcomers and veteran jam session participants, they - and a sizeable audience - turned out despite the counter attraction of watching Sunderland struggling in vain to reach the 'Promised Land' of the Premier League and its riches.

Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger and Mark Robertson got the show on the road in style with three jam session staples - Ain't Misbehavin'This Masquerade and On Green Dolphin Street. First up, Luis Verde. Now resident in Newcastle, our Spaniard is rapidly becoming the star attraction here at the Black Swan. If bop to post bop to contemporary alto saxophone is you're thing, be sure to check out Luis!

Pianist Ben Phillips arrived. Well, well, the man plays a pretty mean trumpet! Later he would sit at the keyboard. Some guys have all the talent. Luis wasn't the only alto player in the house, Esther Coombes pitched in (later leading on Mr PC), as did Steve Summers. The phrase 'Alto Sax Summit' sprung to mind. 

As Mark Robertson went in search of refreshment, Kris Finney and Michael Mather sat in, both more than capable of handing whichever numbers were called (Mather on the drum stool as Showtime, that's David Gray, sang The Shadow of Your Smile). Kate O'Neill, up from Teesside, sang a couple including That Ole Devil Called Love. The multi-talented Stu Collingwood sang Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Aye, they're a talented bunch here at the Black Swan.

MC Paul Grainger marshalled the troops for the outer saying: We'll have a kick around on Blue Monk. And that's precisely what they did, all blowing on one of  Thelonious Monk's many much-loved tunes. The next Black Swan jam session is set for Tuesday June 6. It'll be a prompt seven thirty start, don't be late!  
     
Stu Collingwood (piano, vocals); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums) + (in something like order of appearance) Luis Verde (alto sax); Ben Phillips (trumpet, piano); Liam (guitar); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Adam Sams (guitar); Kris Finney (drums); Steve Summers (alto sax); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Kate O'Neill (vocals); Michael Mather (drums); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Owen Jones (double bass); ? (bass guitar); Alon Dagon (piano); Ray Burns (harmonica)

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