Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

May

Sat 09: The Vieux Carré Hot 4 'Festival of Blossom' @ Seaton Delaval Hall National Trust. 12:30 - 3.00pm. Free event (admission applies).
Sat 09: SH#RP Collective w. Lindsay Hannon @ Church of Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00 (inc. a welcome drink). Advance booking essential. Bring own snacks, drinks to be purchased at ‘donations’ bar. All proceeds to charity. A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sat 09: East Coast Swing Band @ Jubilee Hall, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £10.00.

Sun 10: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 12 noon. Free. Note earlier start.
Sun 10: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 10: The Chet Set @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.
Sun 10: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 11: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 12: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Hey Remember This @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 14: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Philip Larkin’s Jazz Experiment.
Thu 14: Jerron Paxton @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb country blues.
Thu 14: Jacob Egglestone @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums) & guests.

Fri 15: Conor Emery Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Line-up Emery (trombone); Alix Shepherd (piano); John Pope (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 adv., £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Puppini Sisters @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ Blaydon Jazz Club - March 18

(© Roly Veitch)
James Birkett (guitar); Bradley Johnston (guitar)

Emerging from winter hibernation, Blaydon Jazz Club hit the ground running with a welcome return visit by master guitarists James Birkett and Bradley Johnston. This being Blaydon Jazz Club's 40th anniversary year, JB thought it a good idea to present a selection of new tunes, new to our guitar duo, that is. 

Several of our duo's compositions would feature during the course of the evening alongside a selection of standards written by the likes of Frank Loesser, Charlie Parker, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Frederick Loewe and Hoagy Carmichael. JB's Who's Blues? opened the first of two sets. Birkett and Johnston's tutor - student relationship has long since evolved into a guitar partnership of equals which was clearly demonstrated here at the Black Bull. 

An attentive audience appreciated every nuance of their performance, a performance of elan, panache, call it what you will. The word 'telepathic' sprung to mind as first one, then the other, set about constructing an immaculate solo, the other supplying first class rhythmic accompaniment. Scarcely a nod and their roles would be reversed. BJ's Moving brought to mind Harold Arlen's Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, JB's Skating in Bryant Park owed something to John Lewis' Skating in (nearby) Central Park and Bird's My Little Suede Shoes tore it up, great playing! 

Second set more of our duo's original compositions, including JB's Betty Boop and BJ's A Trip Down Memory Lane, sat comfortably alongside Jobim's Don't Ever Leave Me and Frederick Loewe's Almost Like Being in Love. It has been known for our dynamic duo to go out on Chick Corea's Spain. In the spirit of presenting a wholly different set, this evening's showstopper was Ellington's Caravan. Simply tremendous. The applause led to a well-deserved encore...The Nearness of You. 

April's Blaydon Jazz Club concert features drummer Russ Morgan's new quartet. The date for your diary is Monday 15th, eight o'clock start, a mere eight pounds at the door. See you there. Russell                   

Set list: Who's Blues?; I've Never Been in Love Before; Moving; Skating in Bryant Park; My Little Suede Shoes; Miss You; Betty Boop; A Trip Down Memory Lane; Don't Ever Leave Me; Almost Like Being in Love; Sophisticated Lady; Caravan; The Nearness of You.  
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