Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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, October 24, 2024

Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Auckland Castle - Oct. 23

Daniel John Martin (violin, vocals); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Danny Lowndes (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass)

Recently returned from a tour of Australia, Daniel John Martin set off once again from his Paris home, his destination on this occasion, the bright lights of Bishop Auckland. Eurostar (Gare du Nord to St Pancras), LNER (King's Cross to Darlington), 'DJM' as our man is known, arrived in good time to play to a sold out audience in the splendid surroundings of Auckland Castle. 

A Foggy Day. The brilliance of George Gershwin, the brilliance of Daniel John Martin. The term 'virtuoso' doesn't tell half the story. DJM is an astonishing musician, performing with elan, seemingly operating on another level. The set list was at the mercy of DJM's muse, his bandmates for the evening - Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche - quickly adapting to an ever-evolving musical landscape. During the evening, Mick Shoulder and fellow guitarist Danny Lowndes were afforded space to solo at length, with the man at the back, bassist Paul Grainger, a reassuring, steady hand on the tiller.

DJM marked the recent loss of Benny Golson, choosing to play the American saxophonist's rarely performed Hassan's Dream. Excellent. More Gershwin with the show-stopping Oh, Lady Be Good! DJM made a confession. On seeing Audrey Hepburn on screen, he fell in love. Our guest played Moon River. Let's call it 'a moment'. From Johnny Mercer to Charlie Parker's Au Privave, this was DJM covering the waterfront.

Daniel John Martin, violinist, is also a composer. Departing from the script, DJM reeled off three original compositions - Allora, Barbara and Islington. The Swing Manouche boys rose to the challenge. Django Reinhardt had to be in there, he was - Troublant Bolero and Douce Ambiance. Duke Ellington? Yes. In a Sentimental Mood. Wonderful. At the end of the evening Auckland Castle's audience all but brought the house/castle down. 

DJM's next engagement (with Swing Manouche) is this evening (Thursday 24 Oct) at Holy GrAle in Durham. Half past seven, free admission, feel free to make a donation and/or buy a CD. Russell  
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