Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. 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

Friday, March 22, 2024

Press release: NN North Sea Jazz latest

The NN North Sea Jazz Festival, the world’s largest indoor music festival, has announced an additional wave of artists for this year’s event. Taking place from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July at the Ahoy Centre in Rotterdam, North Sea 2024 will present a line-up bursting with huge international stars from across the worlds of jazz, blues, soul, pop and beyond.

Joining a list of around 60 previously-announced artists including Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Jamie Cullum, Cécile McLorin SalvantWalter Smith III, bassist Avishai Cohen, and Ibrahim Maalouf.are over 50 new acts that include Al Di Meola, Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet Feat Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier & Eric Harland, Terence Blanchard, Dhafer Youssef, Matthew Halsall, Butcher Brown, Arooj Aftab, Roberto Fonseca, Terri Lyne Carrington, and this year’s Artist In Residence, the inimitable singer and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello.

Welcoming around 80,000 music fans each year, the North Sea Jazz Festival has built an incomparable reputation since its inaugural year in 1976 hosting a string of musical icons over the years from Miles Davis and Count Basie to Amy Winehouse and Adele. This summer the festival expects more than a thousand musicians, spread out over 150 performances and fifteen different stages. Less than an hour’s plane-ride away, a direct train from London St Pancras or ferry ride, the North Sea Jazz Festival is easily accessible from the UK.

NN North Sea Jazz Festival 2023 – Rotterdam Ahoy Centre 

Friday 12 July: Al Di Meola; Amaro Freitas Trio; Amsterdam Klezmer Band; Avishai Cohen Bande Iroko; Brittany Howard; Chief Adjuah [formerly Christian Scott]; Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50; corto.alto; Dhafer Youssef; D.K. Harrell; Emily King; Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio; Henri Texier 'An Indian's Life'; Idema/Serierse Quartet; Jamie Cullum; Kinga Głyk; Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet 'The Next Step Reunion Tour'; Kymara; Laufey; Lehmanss Brothers; Myra Melford - Fire & Water Quintet; Niescier / Reid / Remigi; Potter*Mehldau*Patitucci*Blake; PJ Morton; Raye; Reuben James; RIMON; Sammy Rae & The Friends; Shirma Rouse & Orchestra of the Royal Netherlands Air Force 'Celebrating Aretha Franklin'; Smino; Sun-Mi Hong Quintet; Vulfpeck

Saturday 13 July: Ancient Infinity Orchestra; Anouk & Metropole Orkest; Arooj Aftab; Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram; Cisco Swank; Corinne Bailey Rae presents Black Rainbows; Elmiene; Enemy - Kit Downes; Ibrahim Maalouf and the trumpets of Michel-Ange ; Joel Ross Good Vibes; John Ghost; John Scofield & Dave Holland; Joshua Redman Group ft. Gabrielle Cavassa 'where are we' Tour; Joss Stone; Laura Misch; Jungle by Night; Lawrence; Lizz Wright; Maite Hontelé & Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest; Matthew Halsall; Manu Delago & Mad About Lemon; Marisa Monte; Masego; Obongjayar; Petter Eldh & James Maddren; Philipp Rüttgers Trio; Quique; Something Else! ft. Vincent Herring, Binker Golding, Jeremy Pelt, David Kikoski, Paul Bollenback, Essiet Essiet, and Lewis Nash ; Sungazer Plus; Tems; Veronica Swift’ Roseye; Sam Newbould Quintet, Swan; The Dam Jawn with Jeremy Pelt; Thee Sacred Souls; YĪN YĪN

Sunday 14 July: Bamba Wassoulou Groove; Benjamin Clementine; Black Pumas; Cécile Mclorin Salvant; Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society  ; Dave Douglas Gifts Quintet ft. James Brandon Lewis, Rafiq Bhatia, and Ian Chang; Faada Freddy; Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation; Knower; Lander & Adriaan; Mahalia; Noname; Sampha; Shai Maestro & Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw; Sting; Sylvie Courvoisier Chimaera; Vicente Amigo; Walter Smith III; Butcher Brown, Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet featuring Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland, Cory Henry, Djavan, Dulfer! Total Response, Ella Zirina Trio, Enji, Glimlip x Yasper, Imaginarium, INIKO, Kahil El'Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Kaisa's Machine, Karsu, Nicole McCabe Quartet, Peter Beets Trio ft. Gregory Hutchinson, Roberto Fonseca La Gran Diversión, Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective with Turtle Island Quartet, Terri Lyne Carrington’s New Standards, The Cavemen, Venna, Yoràn Vroom Group of Friends

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