Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

July

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: Liam & Shayo @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ Music Dept., Durham University. 9:15pm. A Durham Fringe Festival event

Thu 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 30: 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 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick. 8:00-9:00pm. £6.00. A Berwick Fringe Festival event. £6.00 (£6.00 wristband access to all Fringe events).

Monday, December 18, 2023

Party night @ the Globe - Dec. 17

(© Sheila Herrick)
David 'Showtime' Gray (vocals/trombone/trumpet/ocarina); Adam Sams (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather  (drums) + Jim Easton  (congas); Karen Rann (soprano sax); Edgar Bell (cornet).

Over the years 'Showtime' has evolved from a trombonist who played trumpet who also sang. At last night's 'party' he added ocarina to his box of tricks. Is this the full circle or is there more to come? I suspect there is - lock up your Alpine horns.

(© Sheila Herrick)
He played all of the above although the singing appears to be taking over. Still that's no bad thing although I think the trombone is his true forte.

With his his fellow 'Flextonians' on top form they played a seasonal selection of songs before morphing into a jam session at which point my bus beckoned (yes they're back!)


(© Sheila Herrick)
Eva Fox Duo: Eva Fox (vocals); Alan Law  (piano); Paul Grainger  (bass); Michael Mather (drums)

This band maybe should have taken a leaf out of David Gray's book and renamed itself Eva Fox's Flexible Duo as no matter how many times I tried, my count always came up with four. Ms Fox is of Irish descent so maybe they do things differently over there.

However, once she started singing the only numbers that counted were the ones she interpreted so impeccably which was all five. A star is born!

You'd be so Nice to Come Home to; The Man I  Love; You Made me Love You; My Funny Valentine; There Will Never be Another You.

What a swell party this was turning out to be. Even without any mince pies or Christmas crackers to pull under the mistletoe this set made up for it. I hope I get the opportunity to hear her again.

The show had begun with Bluegrass Slow Jam, a sixteen piece ensemble comprising of a plethora of guitars, banjos, mandolins, vocals, violin and harmonica. Fronted by Tom Cronin they played an enthusiastic mix of folk, bluegrass and western swing proving just how varied the Jazz Coop/Globe's musical spectrum is. Lance

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