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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

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

Tuesday, January 07, 2025

Press release: Copasetic Foundation's new year programme

The Copasetic year gets off to a furious start with gigs at the new east London jazz venue, Soul Mama, and a new project debuting at Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec – It Takes Two: Lulu Pierre and Marvin Muoneké revisit the great jazz duets (31st Jan).

Ineza’s debut album continues to earn great reviews (‘Immensely enjoyable … scores highly for its immaculately chosen song list’ – Jazzwise, December) and in February Ineza and the trio return to Hampsted Jazz Club, where they played their first gig in 2022.

In the meantime there are plenty of other live gigs – see below - and if you need more information, photos, or if you would like review tickets for any of them, please contact alewebb@gmail.com

Sunday 12th January 2025

Soul Mama, Gantry Hotel, 40 Celebration Ave, East Village, Stratford E20 1DB: Coltrane and Hartman on Impulse! feat. Denys Baptiste and Marvin Muoneke.  Revisiting the famous album when John Coltrane teamed up with vocalist Johnny Hartman to explore their favourite romantic standards, tenor sax boss Denys Baptiste is joined by the extraordinary vocalist Marvin Muoneke and a top-flight rhythm section of Gary Crosby (bass), Alex Webb (piano) and Noah Ojumu (drums).  For tickets & info: Denys Baptiste and Marvin Muoneke - Events - Universe

Friday 17th January 2025

Café POSK, 238-246 King Street, Hammersmith W6 0RF:  Lulu Pierre (‘Something new and exciting' - Jazz in Europe) celebrates Sarah Vaughan with Alex Webb & The Copasetics: Webb (piano), Hamish Moore (bass) and Dan Hester drums).  For tickets & info: LULU PIERRE AND THE COPASETICS: TRIBUTE TO SARAH VAUGHAN! - Jazz Cafe Posk London

Saturday 18th January 2025

Soul Mama, Gantry Hotel, 40 Celebration Ave, East Village, Stratford E20 1DB:  Ineza & ‘Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories’ comes to Yolanda Brown’s new jazz venue in east London London with material from her acclaimed debut album (‘Immensely enjoyable … scores highly for its immaculately chosen song list’ - Jazzwise).  For tickets & info:  Ineza - Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories - Events - Universe

Friday 24th January 2025

Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec, 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, London SE11 4RN: The Pocket Ellington, a seven-piece celebration of the Ellington repertoire with Alan Barnes (reeds), Tony Kofi (tenor), Andy Davies (trumpet), David Lalljee (trombone), Dave Green (bass) and Winston Clifford (drums).  As well as clever adaptations of Ellington classics by pianist / MD Alex Webb, the group also plays music from arranger/composers influenced by the Duke, including Mingus, Monk and Gil Evans.  For tickets & info: Jazz Club: Upcoming Main Events London - Toulouse Lautrec

Friday 31st January 2025

Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec, 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, London SE11 4RN: : It Takes Two: Lulu Pierre and Marvin Muoneké revisit the great jazz duets.  Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine, Ella & Louis, Ray Charles & Betty Carter – jazz has a rich history of romantic and swinging duets.  Stellar vocalists Marvin Muoneké and Lulu Pierre have a magical chemistry together, and recreate some of the greatest of these duets with the Alex Webb Trio.  For tickets & info: Jazz Club: Upcoming Main Events London - Toulouse Lautrec

Thursday 13th February

Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, London N12 0GA:,  

Ineza & ‘Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories’, performing material from their acclaimed debut album (distinct, remarkable and exciting’ – Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 2) with Alex Webb (piano), Charlie Pyne (bass) and Katie Patterson (drums).  For tickets & info: Ineza & Women's Words, Sisters' Stories - artsdepot

Friday 21st February

Hampstead Jazz Club at The Duke of Hamilton, 23-25 New End, NW3 1JD: Ineza & ‘Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories’, performing material from their acclaimed debut album (‘An absolutely delightful album’ – JazzViews.net) with Alex Webb (piano), Charlie Pyne (bass) and Katie Patterson (drums).  For tickets & info: Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories with Ineza & the Alex Webb Trio - Hampstead Jazz Club

For more news about Copasetic productions and events go here:  https://copaseticfoundation.org/upcoming-events/

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