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

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).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Andy Watt & Friends @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Oct. 19

Andy Watt (guitar); Grace Alexander (piano, keyboards); Dan Rogers (bass guitar); David Lourie (drums)

Today's King's Hall's lunchtime concert attracted a full house, the attraction being 2012 folk degree graduate Andy Watt. Working with the likes of Tom McConville and Alistair Anderson, Watt has one foot planted firmly in the folk music camp. This five-piece band performance would cover a lot of ground, featuring original material and numbers by Larry Carlton, Bill Evans and others. 

To Watt's right sat Grace Alexander (Steinway grand and keyboard), another graduate of the very institution in which this afternoon's concert was taking place. Bassist Dan Rogers had just come off a tour with the Unthanks, with the in demand David Lourie (gig and session work veteran) occupying the drum chair.

Onwards opened the set, Watt's noting: The second section is more complex with some chromatic, jazz-influenced chord movements. Whatever its construction, it worked well. 

Larry Carlton's Room 335 (with Watt playing a Gibson 335) caught the ear of the jazz fan, a tune Carlton wrote with Steely Dan's Peg in mind.

Eye of the Storm (a Watt composition) featured a chord progression often found in modern soul and r&b.

Russell Ferrante's Revelation as recorded by Robben Ford, Watt informing his audience Mr Ford is a big inspiration.

Waltz for Debby (Bill Evans) described by Watt as: beautiful but fiendishly complex, is a familiar tune to the jazz fan, Watt revealing he performed the piece at his final undergraduate recital.

At the End of the Day (comp. Watt) with its jazz and blues elements featured pianist Grace Alexander and bassist Dan Rogers. 

Welchz Grape, the set's closing number, features on a Watt and Friends live recording video. 

Check out: www.andywattguitar.com. Russell  

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