Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. 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, November 21, 2024

Jiannis Pavlidis Trio @ the Heron Theatre, Beetham – Nov. 16

© Heron Theatre
Jiannis Pavlidis (guitar); Sam Quintana (bass); Dave Walsh (drums)

The Hellenic sounds of Greek born and Stockholm bred, Jiannis Pavlidis and his trio reverberated heroically at the Heron Theatre on Saturday November 16. Nestled near to the A6 in Beetham at the point where Lancashire merges into Cumbria the Heron seats 70 punters with a decent sized stage and even has a “steam” piano parked nearby, if so required.

The trio performed largely jazz and songbook standards in equal measure. These included Horace Silver’s Peace, Shorter’s Ana Maria, Bill Evans' Nardis and Miles’ Solar. All of which peppered with Pavlidis’ unique and colourful treatments. In addition, Jaco’s Three Views of a Secret had the bassist handling the melodic chores on what turned out to be an epic journey on this multi faceted opus. The concert concluded with a bracing up-tempo romp of Coltrane’s 1957 classic, Moment's Notice. Not for widows and orphans this, the trio prevailed and scored winningly.

Lancs born and bred drummer, Dave Walsh, posed an ideal foil to the leader’s fleet guitar with his lightly and politely percussive tapping creating  unique grooves de jour at the whim of what the music required. Dave’s natural ebullience, goading the players and audience alike, went a long way to spreading plenty of joy and positivity throughout the lower Cumbria environs. Leeds-based bassist, Sam Quintana, sported a measured poise throughout with  his many profound and melodic solos.

Jiannis’ frequent announcements were endearing in their wandering, free association adventurousness which always managed to conclude (eventually) on a positive note. This was especially welcome and effective in the intimate, low key ambience and receptive confines of the Heron Theatre.

Jazz at The Heron, indeed, and let’s have more of this please.

For more information, logon to jiannispavlidis.com.

There will be more jazz at The Heron on March 22, 2025 with the Frank Griffith Quartet on a programme entitled “Jazz Springs to Mind” Frank Griffith

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