Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: 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 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

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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