Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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

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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