Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Monday, May 20, 2024

The Late Shows @ Ouseburn, Gateshead and Newcastle - May 17/18

One of my favourite weekends of the year! No I didn't make it to Black Swan Jam Session which you'll already have read about on BSH. Out of the many museums and other venues open until 10.30pm(ish) I managed only the Grainger Market and Newcastle Cathedral. But what a good time my friend and I had!

The Grainger Market was very busy from 6:00pm with three stages of activity, and plenty food and drink on offer. The best bit by far was the music of Ponteland Community Wind Band. I now know the difference between a wind band and a jazz big band. The wind band has no piano or guitar, but it does have drums, saxes, trumpets, trombones and maybe the occasional tuba or euphonium - two instruments that I wouldn't expect to find in a big band. I learnt something.

The band was superb. They played film music from Top Gun and Shrek 2, and a medley from the music of Meatloaf and also Stevie Wonder. Best of all was a selection of swing from Duke Ellington, including Take the A Train and It Don't Mean a Thing. We all shouted for an encore which was Human (Rag ‘n’ Bone Man) which included a baritone sax solo.

Further down the aisles there was computer animation on a large screen, to illustrate what happens when the market closes for the night. Apparently the food dances around the alleys, large fish kiss each other, a computer woman tries on all the clothes for sale and balloons and robots run about. Very amusing, I'd never have dreamt it!

There was also a woman singer who was not very good, to put it politely, and I hope she doesn't read BSH. She actually had a good strong voice but I thought she was trying too hard to sound modern, to sound like Billie Eilish. It provided some laughs anyway.

Inside Newcastle Cathedral the vibe was completely different, calm, peaceful, with special lighting,  choral music, and screens showing a brief history of Newcastle. We could have had refreshments in the cafe and raffle tickets to win entry to future events but by then we were tired.

An evening well spent. Recommended for next year. Ann Alex

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