Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

August

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Tuesday, January 02, 2024

Preview: 2024 (part 2)

And then there's the students. Largely term time dependent, keep an eye and ear open for Durham University students (Fabio's, jam session, Durham University Big Band at various venues), Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra (gigs and jam sessions here and there) and Jason Holcomb (Head of Brass, Newcastle University) leading a regular student jam night upstairs at the Globe. 

And then there's the festivals...Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (March 1-3), Hexham Jazz Festival (late May), Newcastle Jazz Festival (mid-August), Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music (late September/early October) and Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party (Nov 1-3).    

Big bands = sold out shows. The magnificent Strictly Smokin' Big Band frequently attracts full houses. Throughout 2024 the SSBB will be here, there and everywhere, not least at the Fire Station on Friday 17 May to launch a new album. The band's special guests in Sunderland will be none other than Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams! Top class big bands can be heard across the region including the Bold Big Band (see photo), the Customs House Big Band, the Darlington Big Band, Durham Alumni Big Band, Musicians Unlimited and the recently formed Saltburn Big Band.

BSH salutes many a success story. How about this for 2024? The Abbie Finn Trio will launch a new album (Stotties for Three) at, wait for it...the Pizza Express in Soho, London! If you're in town on Monday 15 January get along to the Dean Street pizzeria to show your support. At the same London venue on Saturday 20th it's the turn of the Durham University Big Band - and this one is already sold out!
 
And finally, never mind Tyneside, never mind London, try Los Angeles and New York. In the next ten days or so Jo Harrop and Paul Edis will be undertaking a dream coast-to-coast trip to America to perform, first in New York (Jan 13), then San Francisco (Jan 19) before returning to the Big Apple to appear at Dizzy's Club on January 24! 

Resolutions? Here's one, resolve to get out to gigs, be it in Hebburn or Harlem, Laygate or London, New York (North Tyneside) or New York (USA)! Russell
at

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