Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

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

June

Thu 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 18: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 19: Joe Steels Group @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 19: Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £14.33., £11.16., £8.00.
Fri 19: Martin Litton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 (inc. bf); £6.50 (inc. bf); £15.00 on the door. Solo piano. CANCELLED!
Fri 19: Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Joe Webb support set.
Fri 19: Hot Club du Nord @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Jive Aces: The Roots of Rock & Roll @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00 + bf.

Sat 20: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge. 5:00-6:00pm.
Sat 20: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 20: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Trinity Church, Gosforth, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. NCRO w. guests Dean Stockdale & Nick Ward.

Sun 21: From Lagos to Longbenton: Unity in the Community @ Sunderland Minster. From 1:30pm. Free. A multi-bill Unity in the Community event, inc. From Lagos to Longbenton.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio w. Graham Hardy.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 22: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 23: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, July 31, 2023

JPN 2023 CONFERENCE- ‘HERE TO STAY’- BIRMINGHAM OCT 31-NOV 2 – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

(© Iza Korsak)
(Press release): Registration opens for the UK/Ireland’s only jazz-specific conference and showcase event on July 31. With a conference title inspired by the 1962 album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard - Here to Stay-  the Jazz Promotion Network (JPN) celebrates the resilience of jazz in all its forms. A must- see event for anyone involved in the promotion of jazz in its widest sense, the conference will explore how jazz promoters, agents, educators, producers, labels, venues, and musicians can work to maintain and grow the artform across the UK, Ireland and beyond. For 2023 the event is co-hosted by two of the major cultural organisations in Birmingham - B:Music (aka Symphony Hall) and Birmingham City University (BCU) which also contains the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

The conference starts at 1:00pm on Tuesday Oct 31 at B:Music with a keynote address by one of Birmingham’s best known jazz performers and commentators - Soweto Kinch, (pictured) who will also perform in the evening. Conference topics include Inclusivity in Action - how are we all doing at growing our diverse jazz community and Working Internationally - how are things working out post-Brexit with touring and international collaborations. Focusing on Building the next generation, JPN  will be seeking feedback on their proposed  ‘Routes into Jazz’ promoter development project. This will be followed by an evening showcase programme featuring some of the most exciting new artists from across the UK and Ireland.

 

On Wednesday Nov 1 the conference moves to Birmingham City University where conference hosts will present the varied jazz scene in the city, the work of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the university, and the riches of the National Jazz Archive. Conference sessions, some in the new STEAMhouse innovation centre at BCU, will focus on the future of jazz and how new technology may impact on our work as promoters and as artists. These will be followed by the second evening of showcases in the superb Bradshaw Hall at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. 

 

JPN Chair, Ros Rigby OBE, comments ‘ We are absolutely delighted to bring our conference to Birmingham this year, and to be working with such collaborative and creative partners, who do a huge amount to promote jazz in the city, alongside many energetic independent promoters.'

 

Tony Dudley-Evans, Birmingham based jazz promoter, comments ‘ It’s great news that the JPN Conference is coming to Birmingham - it is an important organisation that can do so much to increase the profile of British jazz.  I also welcome the opportunity to showcase some of the talent we have in the city.’

 

JPN Members are eligible for free access to the event. Conference tickets for non-members from £30-£150  Further information/booking details HERE.

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