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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle - Feb. 27

© Ken Drew
Jamie McCredie (guitar) + James Birkett  (guitar)

They turned out for this one. A full house, comprising the usual Railway Street habitué, the never-seen-before type and a gig bag full of of guitarists. Jamie McCredie is from these neck of the woods but for many a year has made London his home. This flying (rail) visit (arrive on gig day, depart early next day) found Jamie in great form - on and off stage. A friendly smile to greet everyone, Jamie knew many of the friendly faces walking through the door. 

© Ken Drew
Two sets of astounding guitar playing fusing jazz and classical idioms, if ever the phrase 'pin drop silence' applied to a gig, this was it. All anyone could hear was Jamie playing guitar - no coughing, no sneezing, no clinking of glasses, just Jamie and his guitar. Jobim (The Girl from Ipanema, Corcovado), As Light Grows Longer (comp. J. McCredie) and more. Jamie invited James Birkett to join him for the first set's closing number, Jerome Kern's All the Things You Are. Magnificent!



© Ken Drew
Second set, more of the same. Night Butterflies (comp. J. McCredie), Stevie Wonder (Don't You Worry Bout a Thing, Isn't She Lovely), Bert's Tune (comp. J. McCredie), Harold Arlen's Somewhere Over the Rainbow and onto the evening's finale as Dr Birkett once more joined Jamie to play a couple of tunes - Billie's Bounce then, to sign off, Cherokee. It had been a truly memorable evening. Russell            
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