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

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).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Monday, February 24, 2025

Jim Collins/John Hulme Quintet @ the Moor Club, Heaton Moor, Stockport - Feb. 23

© Jeff Pritchard
Jim Collins (tenor sax); John Hulme (flugelhorn, cornet); Robin Joiner (keyboards);  Peter Hartley (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums)

Although I'd heard Jim and John many times leading quartets at the now long gone Railway pub in Stockport, this was the first time I'd  heard them co-leading a quintet and I was looking forward to hearing what they had to offer. 

They opened up with a Clifford Brown blues Sandu and right away I knew I was going to enjoy this gig as the sound of tenor sax and flugel working well together is one that I love to hear. 

The selection of thirteen tunes included some by Hank Mobley, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson, Lee Morgan and Charles Mingus. During the first set we heard John Hulme giving us his version of Golson's I Remember Clifford and in the second set Jim Collins  gave us his take on Body and Soul.

It was good to see Eryl Roberts behind the drum kit as he has not been here for a while and he used brushes to great effect on Ceora. Also doing some fine basswork was Peter Hartley and he had the intro to the Eddie Harris tune Cold Duck Time which brought things to a close at 10:00pm. 

I must mention the keyboard work of Robin Joiner who also did a first rate job with some challenging  music. I'd very much like Jim and John to make a speedy return to the Moor Club with more of the same music that sounded so good this evening. 

Next Sunday (March 2) at the Moor Club  the West Coast Octet will play the music of Dave Pell 8:00-10:00pm. Mike Farmer.

Sandu; This I Dig of You; Ceora; Bluesette; I Remember Clifford; Four; Nostalgia in Times Square; Soul Station; Along Came Betty; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Body and Soul; Recorda Me; Cold Duck Time.

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