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

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

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.

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

Monday, July 01, 2024

Munch Manship Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - June 30

© Jeff Pritchard
Munch Manship (tenor sax/piccolo/flute); Richard Wetherall (keys); Dave Lynane (bass); Max Beasley (drums).

My 6:44 train was cancelled meaning I had to get the 7:44  so by the time I arrived at the Railway it was about quarter past eight. Plenty of time I thought to grab a good seat before the nine o'clock start. I was wrong as the place was already pretty full and I was very lucky to get hold of one of the few remaining stools. There is no doubt about it, Munch always attracts a large following and his brand of hard driving modern jazz goes down well with the Sunday night crowd. 


Tonight’s line-up featured Richard Wetherall playing a full size Nord Grand 88 note keyboard. I have seen him many times recently and he never fails to impress with his creative approach. On drums was Max Beasley standing in for Dave Hassell and his powerhouse drumming style is highly suited to Munch’s  way of playing. He also did some great brushwork when Munch went into Latin mood on piccolo for an uptempo version of Tico Tico, and flute for Samba de Orfeu. Dave Lynane was holding things together and his solid time keeping skills are second to none. 


As I was listening to all this fantastic music I could not help but wonder what the future has in store for the Railway. Due to the recent demise of landlord Ray Ford, the pub will be closed for a two week period after which decisions will be made. That is all I know at present but if I hear anything I will pass the info on. Mike Farmer


East of the Sun; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Up Jumped Spring; The Jamfs Are Coming; Soul Eyes; Without a Song; Have You Met Miss Jones?; Tico Tico; Samba de Orfeu; This I Dig of You; Autumn Leaves.

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