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

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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Monday, February 12, 2024

Munch Manship Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Feb. 11

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Munch Manship (flute/tenor sax); Richard Wetherall  (keyboards); Dave Lynane  (bass); Dave Hassell (drums).

Always a sure-fire room filler, Munch started the concert before a packed house with a lively rendition of that much played standard Softly as in a Morning Sunrise. ably assisted by a superb rhythm section of the two Daves plus Richard Wetherall who for this gig brought with him a full-size 88 note Nord Grand keyboard. Most regulars at this venue are used to hearing Richard on the house upright piano but tonight the volume level was up a notch as was the energy vibe.  

Those who have seen Munch many times over the years will have a good idea of who some of his favourite composers are and out of the eleven numbers played tonight, we heard compositions from such as Freddie Hubbard, Tubby Hayes, Luis Bonfá, Benny Carter, Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Ellington and Clifford Brown, A pretty varied selection I thought, something for everyone.


Munch utilised his flute to good effect and showed his expertise in ¾ waltz time on Tubby Hayes' tune In the Night. I also liked his fluting on Samba de Orpheus. Equally impressive was an ultra fast Airegin which brought to a close an excellent evening of hard- swinging jazz. 


The next jazz night at the Railway will be on February 13 with Paul Hartley, Julian Gregory, Mathew Compton and Peter Wilmott.

 

Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Up Jumped Spring; The Jamfs Are Coming; Samba de Orpheus; In a Sentimental Mood; St Thomas; Joy Spring; A Weaver of Dreams; Only Trust Your Heart; In the Night; Airegin.

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