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

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

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.

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

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Rod Mason @ the Railway Stockport - Jan. 23

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Paul Hartley (guitar); Rod Mason (saxes); Peter Hartley (bass); Dave Walsh (drums)

After having to abort my usual Sunday journey to Stockport due to the trains not running and the replacement bus not showing up I was pleased that on Tuesday the train was on time and although the wind was at gale force I got to the Railway without getting blown into the street on my 20 minute walk from the station to the pub. It must have been a  hairy drive across the Pennines for Rod Mason but he was the first of the musicians to arrive at around 8:00pm well in advance of the 9:00pm start. Rod is a frequent guest at this venue and always attracts a good turnout but for some reason more people arrived in the second half than the first.

He started the show with Estate a tune that has become popular ever since it was recorded by trumpeters Woody Shaw and Chet Baker. Rod played soprano sax on this one. 


Out of a really interesting selection of tunes - 12 in total - if I had to pick a highspot it would be the Denzil Best number Wee which is sometimes known as Allen’s Alley and played at breakneck tempo with some explosive stickwork from Dave Walsh. I love these old bop tunes. During this number Rod quoted Happy Birthday to You as a tribute to jazz loving landlord Ray who is doing such a great job in keeping live jazz going in Stockport. 


The next jazz night at the Railway is on Jan 29 and features the Gaz Hughes Trio. Mike Farmer


Estate; Here’s That Rainy Day; Gone With the Wind; This I Dig of You; Ill Wind; The Night Has a Thousand Eyes; Bag’s Groove; Secret Love; I’ve Got You Under my Skin; Wee; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; You Don’t Know What Love Is.

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