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

Tuesday, November 05, 2024

Press release: Pete Allen Jazz Band -Touring dates (down south) November 2024

During a professional career in show business that has spanned over 46 years, there is so much Pete has achieved that it is impossible to list everything. During the past 46 years, his band personnel has always featured a host of British talent, and his present line-up is no exception:  Pete Allen on clarinet and saxes,  Roger Marks (trombone), Chris Hodgkins (trumpet) - who has rejoined the band after 41 years - Jim Newton (drums), Dave Hanratty (bass), James Clemas (piano) plus Trevor Whiting (clarinet and saxes) and Max Brittain (banjo and guitar) on the 21st and 27th November.

November Dates

Friday 15th Ongar Jazz Club, Budworth Hall Ballroom, High Street, Chipping Ongar, Essex, CM5 9JG. Tickets: £15 - showtime 8pm. Bookings: 07768 815390
Saturday 16th Wickham Bishops Jazz Club, Wickham Bishops Village Hall, Church Road, Wickham Bishops, Essex, CM8 3JZ
Tickets: ₤15.00 – showtime 7.30pm.
Bookings: wickhambishopsjazzclub@gmail.com or call 07548 775777.
Sunday 17th Colchester Jazz Club, Marks Tey Parish Hall,
Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester. Essex, CO6 1EJ
Tickets: £12 - showtime 7:30pm
Tuesday 19th The Bay Jazz Club,  Botany Bay Cricket Club, East Lodge Lane, Enfield, EN2 8AS. Tickets: Tickets for members £12 and £15 for guests - no booking required. Showtime 12.30pm
Thursday 21st  The Old Picture House, Harbour Road,Seaton, Devon, EX12 2LZ. Showtime - 3pm to 5.30pm. Pete’s 8 piece band   Admission £15 at the door  Tel: 07899 925194
Saturday 23rd  Everest Tandoori Restaurant, Webb’s House, Pike Street,  Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 3HW. Showtime - 7pm to 11pm. Tickets £37.50 inclusive of a superb Indian Buffet Meal. Tickets: Tel 07899 925194 or email peteallenjazz@tiscali.co.uk
Wednesday 27th PizzaExpress Jazz Club,10 Dean Street, London  W1D 3RW. Showtime 8pm. Tickets £18.50 Box office: https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/pete-allen
Sunday 8th December The Bowlers Arms, (Presidents Suite), Falkland Cricket Club, Wash Common, Newbury, RG14 6TW, Admission £15 at the door  Tel: 01635 47658

Pete Allen

Pete joined the Rod Mason Jazz Band in 1976 and formed his own fully professional band on the 1st of October 1978.

Throughout the late seventies, eighties, and nineties, the Pete Allen Jazz Band was the most featured band of its style on a host of popular BBC Radio Two programmes, including regular slots on the Terry Wogan Breakfast Show and others presented by Jimmy Young, John Dunn, Ray Moore, Gloria Hunniford, Pete Clayton, Humphrey Lyttleton, Sheila Tracey, and Brian Matthew. He also featured on Music While You Work, Friday Night is Music Night and a number of Bank Holiday Special broadcasts for Pete Murray and Paul Daniels.

In addition to radio, the band made regular appearances on television for BBC Pebble Mill at One and Harry Secombe Highway, plus Jazz Specials for Border TV, TSW, TV South, HTV West, BBC South, and BBC West. He also made appearances on various European TV shows in Germany, Denmark, and Holland whilst on tour.

Over the years Pete has played alongside many  American jazz legends including Billy Butterfield, Benny Waters, Peanuts Hucko and Bob Wilber.
Throughout his career, Pete has released over 100 recordings. The band represented England at the Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee USA in 1983,  1984 and 1986,  attracting audiences of 85,000. Pete was also chosen to lead the Worldwide All Stars – a band that included Barrett Deems (drums) and Jack Lesberg (bass), both ex-members of Louis Armstrong’s All-Stars. In 1992, whilst playing tour dates in St Louis and New Orleans USA, Pete was awarded Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans for his services to British music and tourism.

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