Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Mon 15: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 16: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Tue 16: A Jazzy Xmas @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Tue 16: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.

Wed 17: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £29.00 (inc. bf). ‘Festive Lunch’. VCJ on stage 12 noon (three sets 'til 4:00pm).
Wed 17: Lazy River Band @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Veronica Perrin, Chris Perrin, John Farragher, Phil Rutherford
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Wed 17: A Jazzy Xmas @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ YOLO, Ponteland. 7:00pm. ‘Swing & Jazz Night’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 18: Joe Steels & Friends @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Fri 19: Fraser Urquhart @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. 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 @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. .
Fri 19: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy..
Fri 19: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes. .
Fri 19: Giles Strong Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club..
Fri 19: Creakin’ Bones & the Xmas Dinners @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £13.01 (inc. bf)..
Fri 19: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackosn’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 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

Saturday, October 14, 2023

606 Club Live Music: 2023 EFG London Jazz Festival

(Press release) Hello all you connoisseurs of culture and lovers of live music – warm greetings from the 606 in Chelsea, getting in touch regarding the 2023 EFG London Jazz Festival!

Whether measured by the number of venues presenting jazz & related styles or increases in online listening by generations Y and Z, jazz is hip, cool and very much in the vanguard in the UK. A growing audience, rising international profile and recognition in the form of this year’s Mercury Prize is further testimony to that!

 

In the midst of this thriving scene sits the 606 Club, which has been owned and run by musician Steve Rubie since 1976. Combining the best of old and new, it’s ‘USP’is presenting musicians based in the UK. As such, artists including Jamie Cullum, Gwilym Simcock, Claire Martin, Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw and more played here when they were first coming through.

 

For this EFG London Jazz Festival season, the Club has put together a lineup that honours tradition, while celebrating the present and tipping its hat to the future. 

 

Please find below brief descriptions of each of our EFG London Jazz Festival events, from 10-19 November. There have been numerous recent programme changes and additions over the last couple of weeks, so this information is ‘hot off the press’ one might say!

 

To find out more about these artists, to view videos and so on, I’ve included links to the individual event pages on the 606 website. You may also view the Festival schedule at a glance HERE. 

 

Fri 10th: 9:00pm - Imaani & Special Guest Chris Ballin               

Tonight the Club features Imaani, plus her Special Guest, Chris Ballin. Imaani has been a member of the iconic jazz funk band Incognito for over a decade, while Chris was featured on two of Incognito's albums, 'Beneath the Surface' & 'Inner Shade'. This promises to be a world-class night of soul & R&B! “The magnificent vocals of Imaani” DJ Times


Sat 11th: 9:00pm - The Peter King Memorial Sax Summit feat. Mornington Lockett, Tom Smith, Trish Clowes & Nat Facey with the Will Barry Trio.                  Named in honour of the late Peter King, we present a breathtaking 4-sax front line featuring Mornington Lockett, Tom Smith, Trish Clowes & Nat Facey, accompanied by award-winning pianist Will Barry and his trio. “Lockett…tremendous fluency and drive” Evening Standard

 

Sun 12th: 1:30pm - Lunchtime Special: World Heart Beat & the Julian Joseph Academy Present “Together We Go Forward”       

World Heart Beat and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy present 'Together We Go Forward”, a special concert from two of the country's leading music academies. To discover the next generation of jazz musicians, this is the gig to go to!

 

8:00pm - Jo Harrop & Paul Edis-Autumn Serenade: When Autumn Turns to Winter 

Rising star vocalist Jo Harrop, pianist/Musical Director Paul Edis and their band present a programme based upon their 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Award-winning Jazz Album of the Year, “When Winter Turns to Spring”. "This girl was born to sing jazz!" Blues & Soul


 Mon 13th: 8:00pm -   Emily Francis Trio                                         

With a fascinating mix of influences including 60s & 70s-era electronic jazz, psychedelia and even prog rock, Emily Francis-piano/keys, Trevor Boxall-bass & Jamie Murray-drums have created a harmonically rich landscape of melody and groove. “…a thing of rare beauty” Jazzwise


 Tue 14th: 8:00pm – Kaidi Akinnibi (EP Launch)               

From South London, up-and-coming saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi has already worked with an eclectic variety of artists including the likes of Tom Misch, Black Midi, Blue Lab Beats & Mark Kavuma’s Banger Factory. A standout member of London’s creative, vibrant jazz scene.


Wed 15th: 8:00pm - Shez Raja ft Soweto Kinch                            

Virtuoso bassist Shez Raja is a dynamic live performer mixing Indo-jazz, funk and groove styles. Featuring special guest, MOBO-award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch.  “The hip-shaking mix of Eastern song lines and funky Western dance-beats never wavers” **** Evening Standard


Thu 16th: 8:00pm-Adrian Cox Quintet 'The New Orleans Clarinet' + Special Guest Giacomo Smith  

A rare opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed clarinettist Adrian Cox in his only UK show until 2024, joined by his very good friend, fellow clarinet player & Kansas Smitty’s bandleader, Giacomo Smith. A joyful celebration of this quintessentially swinging, mainstream jazz instrument.


 Fri 17th: 9:00pm - Samara with Special Guest: Adriano Adewale           

“Samara” is a jazz/Latin group led by the 606 Club's Steve Rubie. Featuring Brasilian singer Carolina Lelis, their special guest is the Afro-Brasilian percussionist/composer Adriano Adewale (AKA Trio, Bobby McFerrin).“Cracking Latin-jazz quintet” Time Out; ”Adewale a priceless asset” Guardian


 Sat 18th: 9:00pm – Byron Wallen: Tribute to Andrew Hill          

A leading light of the UK jazz world, trumpeter & composer Byron Wallen has had an extraordinary career. Recipient of the BBC’s ‘Innovation in Jazz’ & the Paul Hamlyn Award for Artists, this new show will explore the music of the late great pianist/composer Andrew Hill, with whom Byron played in his last Quintet.


Sun 19th: 1:30pm - Lunchtime Special: Rachel Sutton, Jo Harrop & Eileen Hunter: "One More Time                         

Three of the 606 Club’s favourite singers, Rachel Sutton, Jo Harrop & Eileen Hunter, perform timeless vocal-led jazz standards. A delightful and fun-filled afternoon! “Suttona must see” Cabaret Scenes; “Harropsinging sensation” Bebop Spoken Here; “Hunteramazing musician” Jazz FM.

 

8:00pm - Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw & Claire Martin: Benefit for Baby Robin     

Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw & Claire Martin are three of the UK's finest jazz performers. They have united to support Robin Samuel (a twenty-month-old child with neuroblastoma, an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer), for this special benefit event.

Laura G Thorne, Marketing Manager 606 Club

1 comment :

Chris Kilsby said...

Also playing (but not making the cut for the press release!) Two northern bands on Wed 15 Nov: Vipertime (Leeds) and Knats (Newcastle, Hexham and London!): https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/events/vipertime-knats

And of course Knats back at Glasshouse (will always be Sage to me) this Friday!

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