Bebop Spoken There

Ethan Hawke (starring as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon): ''Larry [Lorenz] Hart would be so happy that his music and his words and his poetry are still alive.'' - The Northern Echo 27 November 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

18000 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 964 of them this year alone and, so far, 73 this month (Nov. 24).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 07: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. special guest Donna Hewitt (sax, clarinet).
Sun 07: Finn-Keeble Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 07: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Ruth Lambert.
Sun 07: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Jason Isaacs Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 5:15pm (4:00pm doors). £21.50 (inc. bf).
Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Support set from Play More Jazz! course participants. Note earlier start.

Mon 08: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 09: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Mike Lindup Jazz Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £26.50 (inc. bf). Lindup, Yolanda Charles (bass), John Sam (drums).
Wed 10: Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00.

Thu 11: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: West Coast (cool ) / Wordsearch (cool) Cool Jazz or ‘Cold’, ‘Cool’, ‘Hot’, ‘Warm’ in the title or lyrics.
Thu 11: George Robinson @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £5.42 (inc. bf). Vienna’s Voice charity evening featuring ’15 year old singing sensation the ‘Redcar Crooner’ George Robinson’. Over 35s only.
Thu 11: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. back tapes.
Thu 11: Ransom Van @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 11: Down for the Count Swing Orchestra @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:30pm. £37.70 (inc. bf). ‘Swing into Xmas’.

Fri 12: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ Northumberland Club, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £15.00. ‘Xmas Soiree’.
Fri 12: A Jazzy Xmas @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £15.00. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Matthew Forster (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 12: Tony Hadley: Xmas Big Band Tour 2025 @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Fri 12: Alexia Gardner @ The New Ship Inn, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. 8:00pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy, Abbie Finn.
Fri 12: Jive Aces: Swingin’ Xmas Show @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 8:00pm.

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

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Press release: PX Records celebrate first anniversary

The tables have turned on traditional first anniversary gifts, with PizzaExpress choosing to mark the one-year milestone of their successful record label, PX Records, with vinyl – launching record stores in three London locations. 

PizzaExpress Live (PizzaExpress’ live music venues) have always been known for bringing music fans closer to the artists they love – and last year, the brand took that one step further, launching its own record label, live recording the performances and distributing them via PX Records. In celebration of its first anniversary, the label is launching its own record stores located within the brand’s live music venues in Soho, Holborn and Chelsea. 

 

Opening from April 26, the record stores will offer up vinyl and CDs from PX Records artists including UK soul outfit Mamas Gun, revered US saxophonist Scott Hamilton, Jamiroquai keyboardist Matt Johnson and multi award-winning jazz duo Ian Shaw and Tony Kofi, all recorded at PizzaExpress Live venues. 

 

Since the launch of PX Records in April 2023, the label has released nine records from artists across a range of genres – from jazz to hip hop, and dance to country. The successful albums have seen over 1.5 million streams in their first year, with countless tracks making it onto national radio.

 

In 2024, PX Records is set to release even more new records, including a hotly anticipated album from Brit award winner Jack Garratt, whose album was recorded during a series of sold-out live shows at PizzaExpress Live in Holborn, along with captivating duo KYNO (Keep Ya Nose Out), who first rose to fame on X-Factor where they garnered attention due to their awe-inspiring vocals and fierce stage presence.

 

PizzaExpress Music Manager, Ross Dines, said of the record label’s success, “For almost 50 years, music has been an iconic part of PizzaExpress, combining live performances and delicious dining experiences. To be able to continue our passion for supporting both up-and-coming and established, global artists through PX Records is something we’re very proud of and we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the opening of our first record stores.” 

 

UK future soul band Yakul, whose vinyl album was recorded at PizzaExpress Live in Holborn last year, said, “It was incredible to have our live show recorded and released on vinyl via PX Records. There’s something very special about vinyl and it’s incredibly exciting to have this record now available at PizzaExpress’ record stores across London.”

 

Since its inception in Soho in the late ‘70s, PizzaExpress Live has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading destinations for live music, presenting over 1,500 shows per year, including recent performances from McFly and Pixie Lott. PizzaExpress is also home to a long line of musicians who have gone on to become global stars including Jamie Cullum, Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones, and Gregory Porter.  

                                                                                                          

To learn more about PX Records, visit https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/px-records. 

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