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: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
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: Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED to Sunday 4 October.
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.

Saturday, August 05, 2023

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival - Saturday August 19

Two weeks today (Saturday, August 19) it's the first of two full days of action at Tyne Bank Brewery. Located east of the Ouseburn on Walker Road, the brewery's spacious premises is the ideal venue for an all day festival. Doors open at one o'clock with the first set getting underway half an hour later. 

First on stage at 1:30pm, it's the Ruth Lambert Duo! Vocalist Ruth Lambert's recently formed collaboration with guitarist Martin Craggs is an occasional pairing and this Newcastle Jazz Festival appearance is likely to win the duo many new fans. 

Following Lambert and Craggs at 2:40pm it's the Giles Strong Quartet. Quietly-spoken Strong is one of the finest guitarists around and his current quartet features three of the region's most in demand musicians: Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ian Paterson (double bass) and John Bradford (drums). Expect a set of accomplished original compositions alongside one or two choice standards. At 3:50pm stand by for a border raid. Currently playing a series of sold out shows at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, JazzMain - Nick Gould (tenor sax), pianist Steve Grossart, bassist Iain Harkness and drummer Kevin Dorrian - will hit Tyne Bank with a swinging Blue Note-inspired set. 

At five o'clock the Dean Stockdale Quartet will be Celebrating Oscar. Stockdale (piano), Tim Williams (guitar), Gavin Barras (double bass) and Max Popp (drums) will be playing, yes, you've guessed it...Oscar Peterson! Stockdale's homage to the late, great Canadian pianist has won universal praise and this is one set you really shouldn't miss. If there's a busier, hard working musician than Nigel Price your correspondent has yet to come across them. Topping the bill at a quarter past six in the evening is the Nigel Price Organ Trio, that's Price (guitar), Ross Stanley (Hammond organ) and Joel Barford (drums). Price is a stupendous guitarist, Stanley is a master of the Hammond and the brilliant Barford, in his mid-twenties, has to be seen (and heard) to be believed. Make no mistake, this will be one seriously smokin' set! 

Ninety minutes later (7:45pm) Saturday at Tyne Bank Brewery will be brought to a close by Hoochie Coochie favourites Swannek. Fronted by vocalist Mollie Birmingham this is jazz, funk, soul and a whole lot more. Jazz for the twenty first century!  

Advance day tickets are a bargain at £18.00 (those who have purchased a five day festival pass will be guaranteed entry). Check out: www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk. Alternatively, if Saturday isn't an advance sell out you'll be able to pay at the door. Don't take a chance, book in advance! Russell  
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