Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Monday, May 27, 2024

Northumberland Jazz Festival: Paul Edis Trio with Bruce Adams & Alan Barnes + Jambone @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - May 25

The Northumberland Jazz Festival (formerly Hexham Jazz Festival) presented two days of top quality jazz to a series of appreciative audiences. Queen's Hall, Hexham Library and the Sele hosted concerts by the Paul Edis Trio with special guests Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes, a scratch Alice Grace Trio, the Tyne Valley Youth Big Band, Bryony Jarman-Pinto and the Clark Tracey Quintet.

Saturday: Paul Edis Trio with Bruce Adams & Alan Barnes + Jambone

© Sheila Herrick
Paul Edis (piano); Ken Marley (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums) with Bruce Adams (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn); Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax)

Queen's Hall, Saturday evening, pianist Paul Edis returned to the Northumberland market town to open this year's rebranded festival. Bassist Ken Marley travelled over from west of the Pennines, drummer Russ Morgan from down the road on Tyneside. Edis' special guests - Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes - arrived from way down south. Cannonball Adderley, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, Blue Mitchell and Jimmy Smith would figure in an eclectic set list.

© Sheila Herrick
Anything by Cannonball Adderley is right up Alan Barnes' street, Blues Mitchell's Fungii Mama let Bruce Adams off the leash, Skylark featured the genial Scot on flugelhorn and, the surprise of the evening, picking up his cornet to play Davenport Blues. Edis' rhythm section saw plenty of action - Ken Marley* rock solid and no slouch as a soloist, Russ Morgan covering everything with ease. Jimmy Smith's Motorin' Along concluded a marvellous straight ahead session.

Earlier, MD Jason Holcomb put the Gateshead Glasshouse youth jazz ensemble Jambone through its paces. 

Jambone: Jason Holcomb (MD); alto sax; clarinet; trumpet (x2); trombone; piano; bass; drums & vibes; drums & percussion (x2)

Shorn of numbers in recent times (the small matter of a pandemic and funding issues), Jambone appears to be coming through tough times. Under the direction of Jason Holcomb, the Gateshead based outfit is showing signs of life. It helps that Holcomb is an enthusiastic educator, transmitting his enthusiasms to his young charges. 

Drafting in Conor Emery for the occasion to help bolster the ensemble, Holcomb ensured there was a lot of 'bone action for his fellow trombonist, featuring on several numbers, including Pick Up the Pieces One by One (Fred Wesley's homage to the Average White Band). Introducing the number, Holcomb teased Emery saying: No pressure, kiddo! A good set.

* Bruce Adams expressed his delight at working one again with Ken Marley, after a gap of some twenty years! Russell

 


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