Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
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: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Alan Barnes with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ 1719, Sunderland - June 21

© Ken Drew
Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn drums)

A glorious midsummer's evening. 1719, Sunderland's new multi-purpose arts venue ('1719' referencing the year the Georgian building opened as a church in the Hendon area of town now rebranded 'Old Sunderland') has been promoting jazz concerts on a regular basis. Wearside has never been known as a jazz hotspot and it's heartening to see the venue taking a leap of faith.

This evening's concert promotion presented the great Alan Barnes. Following a tremendous lunchtime gig up the road in Newcastle working with the Dean Stockdale Trio, Barnes made the short journey to Wearside in good time for a half past seven start. Barnes' lunchtime Lit & Phil gig focussed upon Wally Fawkes, whose centenary it was this very day (b. 21.6.1924), this evening's concert would be more wide ranging, encompassing Fawkes' Humph association, GASbook material, Jobim, scorching bop workouts and more.

© Ken Drew
Joy Spring, it's always joyous, and in the hands of Mr A. Barnes, this was 'something else', absolutely blistering alto sax playing. This is why we go to gigs! Whatever company Barnes works in (on this occasion the excellent Dean Stockdale Trio) he makes it look ever so casual, as if old friends were getting together to play a few tunes. Stardust, Jobim's A Felicidade, Johnny Mandel's Emily, varied material, all played with conviction by the evening's star guest and the 'locals', namely pianist Dean Stockdale, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn. 

Art Pepper's Miss Who? (a contrafact of Sweet Georgia Brown) hit the heights, Barnes pulling out into the fast lane, the trio right there with him all the way (a top class solo from A. Finn, using brushes all night long), Triste, with Barnes on clarinet, a tune D. Stockdale is fond of playing, Body and Soul, St Thomas, Alan Barnes and co deservedly won much applause. An encore won, bebop to the fore, it had been another canny night here at Old Sunderland's Old Black Cat Jazz Club. Russell                 
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