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

18122 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1086 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: FILM: Blue Moon @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Dir. Richard Linklater’s biopic of Lorenz Hart.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

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.

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

Friday, June 09, 2023

When Abbie Met Harry

Abbie Finn met Harry Keeble at Leeds College of Music (now Leeds Conservatoire). They've been an 'item' ever since and now they're married! Yesterday (June 8) was their 'big day' and it all went rather well. Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle the idyllic location, the weather set fair, by all accounts the ceremony went without a hitch. Your correspondent happily accepted an invitation to the evening reception.


Arriving at Jesmond Dene House who should be standing just inside the entrance? Abbie and Harry, there to greet their guests. Our newly weds had yet to change into something more casual, Abbie looking a picture, Harry scrubbed up, what a canny couple! A table laden with sweets, the hotel bar stocking Tyne Bank Brewery bottled beers, pizza to follow and a top class band providing the entertainment, who could ask for anything more?

The top class band just happened to be none other than the Strictly Smokin' eight piece function band. What a band! MD Michael Lamb ensured the musical soundtrack to the evening went like clockwork: three horns, guitar, piano, bass and drums plus a vocalist of some renown. Unforgettable opened the show, how appropriate! Wonderwall, Summertime, Too Darn Hot, Lullaby of Broadway, Route 66, Can't Buy Me Love, Moondance, choice material all, exactly what was required. 

Until this evening your correspondent hadn't seen a drummer in a wedding dress playing drums. Step forward Abbie Finn. And Harry Keeble just happened to have his tenor sax at hand. Playing with the band at your own wedding - how cool is that?! 

Abbie's tutor at Leeds was Sebastiaan de Krom. A guest of Abbie and Harry on their big day, Seb didn't take too much persuading in joining Harry and the band to play one number, Coltrane's Impressions. Let's just say it was an 'I was there' moment. As dusk descended over Jesmond Dene House sparklers illuminated the entrance. As fairy tales go, Abbie and Harry are living the dream. Russell                  
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