Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Alan Barnes & John Hallam with the Tom Kincaid Trio @ Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club - Feb.1

Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); John Hallam (tenor sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Tom Kincaid (piano); Dave Tomkins (double bass); Eryl Roberts (drums)

The third and final concert of Alan Barnes' flying visit to the region attracted a large crowd. In excess of one hundred fans turned out as Barnes reunited with John Hallam at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Our duo met up with the Tom Kincaid Trio in time for a half past twelve start. 

Barnes (AB) and Hallam (JH) opened on clarinet - As Long As I Live (Harold Arlen), followed by Oh, Lady Be Good! (George Gershwin). The Larchfield Street audience liked what it was hearing - more GASbook than N'Awlins, but, when these guys are on stage, no one but no one can fail to like what they play! Cole Porter's What is This Thing Called Love? maintained the highest of standards (AB, alto, JH, tenor) and it was a joy to listen to a top class trio - Messrs, Tom Kincaid, Dave Tomkins and Eryl Roberts.  

In a Mellotone heard both AB and JH on baritone sax, our duo demonstrating their facility on the big beast(s). Whether alto, baritone or clarinet (AB) or tenor, baritone or clarinet (JB), whichever instrument they chose to play, this early afternoon concert was nothing short of a masterclass. 

Second set: Johnny Hodges' Sideways (AB as Hodges!), the two clarinets on Pee Wee's Blues (by chance, the following day, the number would feature on JRR), the two baritones on I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart, the baritones again on Bernie's Tune (excellent solos across the band), we could have listened late into the night to Barnes, Hallam and co. However, these guys are busy bees. An excellent Flamingo (AB, alto, JH, tenor) and then they were thinking of getting away - Boston Spa Jazz Club was calling! 

Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club's first concert promotion of the year couldn't have gone any better. Next month (Saturday 1 March), DNOJC favourite TJ Johnson returns with his full band. Russell                        

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