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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

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.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Sunday, August 06, 2023

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival - Sunday August 20

Two weeks today we'll be in the home straight. The fifth and final day of this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival is set to reach a climax at Tyne Bank Brewery. Wednesday we were at the Globe, Thursday the Bridge Hotel, Friday in the Black Swan and Saturday the first of two days on Walker Road. Now to Sunday ... 

Trumpeter Graham Hardy and pianist Stu Collingwood set the ball rolling at half past one. Some fifty minutes later it's the turn of tenor saxophonist Matthew Forster. The Strictly Smokin' Big Band's tenor man brings in his top flight quartet for what promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend. 

Two of a Mind is a recently formed meeting of musical minds. They just happen to sit together in the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's reeds, however, Steve Summers and Sue Ferris are vastly experienced performers in a wide range of musical contexts and their shared love of the musical collaboration of Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan sparked the idea that they are 'of like mind'. At 3:50pm Steve and Sue will be joined by bassist Andy Champion and drummer Rob Walker. Don't miss their set!

A few years ago circumstances decreed the Slowlight Quartet would cease performing and recording. Times change and now they're back! A recent live recording session and the band's forthcoming festival appearance suggest the Slowlights are going to be around for the foreseeable future. Be sure to catch the quartet - Tom Quilliam, Paul Loraine, Ian Paterson and John Hirst - at five o'clock. 

To close a marvellous five days of top quality jazz, at 6:15pm the vibraphone takes centre stage. Jonny Mansfield has worked with many 'names', too many to mention. An early Tyneside appearance (2016) found him working alongside Alexander Bone in Jam Experiment (Jam Experiment later morphing into Bonsai). This 2023 Newcastle Jazz Festival headline engagement sees Mansfield working with bassist Andy Champion and drummer Dave McKeague. Admission on the day is £18.00.. To see the full range of festival ticket options visit: www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk. Russell   
                    
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