Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18982 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 846 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 8.) 25.

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

October.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 4:45pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
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.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 15: Leah Kirk: A Strange Affair @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Leah Kirk (vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 15: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. PJO w. guest Graham Hardy (trumpet).

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: Ancient Infinity Orchestra @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 16: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01. adv.; £15.00. on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick. 8:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, March 05, 2025

The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (Schools) - Sunday, March 2

A second day of competition, comprising school and youth categories. The first competition of the day would features school bands. The youth section would follow. Just three competition entries this year, two from the region and one from distant Telford in Shropshire. As the hall began to fill up (families, friends, big band fans) the first band took to the stage. 

Previous winners here in Chester-le-Street, all the way from Shropshire (a distance in excess of 200 miles), the thought occurred Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band (MD, Tom Gledhill) hadn't made the long journey for nothing. Abraham Darby would present four numbers for consideration. Birdland is always well received, what a great start! The band's performance of Lennie Niehaus (Northwest Journey), Neal Hefti (Li'l Darlin') and Bill Reddie's Channel One Suite suggested the Telford outfit would take some beating. 

From down the road in rural County Durham, Barnard Castle School Soul Band (MD, George Ford) would emphasise the 'soul' element of its performance. The Jacksons' I Want You Back almost had 'em up dancing, all that was lacking were the vocals! Concluding with Bruno Mars' Runaway Baby, the only question was: Would the Barnard Castle gang make off with some silverware? 

And to the third and final competition entry - Yarm School Big Band (MD, Chris Hibbard). MD Chris Hibbard didn't let on, but we were about to hear two marvellous singers (not to mention a fine band). Moanin' opened Yarm's set of four numbers. A good start. Esther Lane singing On the Sunny Side of the Street brought the house down. Playing piano (with a touch of stride into the bargain), Luke Pemberton sang Harry Connick Jr.'s version of A Wink and a Smile. Excellent! Yarm signed-off with the James Taylor Quartet's version of the Starsky and Hutch Theme. A winning performance? We would shortly find out.  

The adjudicators (Mick Donnelly and Marcus Brown) gathered their thoughts. Handing their notes to Bill Watson, the results were as follows:                                             
Adjudicators' award: Esther Lane, vocals (Yarm School) 

Adjudicators' award: Bassist (Barnard Castle School Soul Band)

Adjudicators' award: Sam Proffitt, tenor sax (Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band)

Mark Jon Bolderson Percussion Foundation award: Ollie Carey (Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band)

Best Programme: Yarm School Big Band 

Best Section: Rhythm section, Barnard Castle School Soul Band

Best Soloist: Luke Pemberton, piano & vocals (Yarm School Big Band)

Best Band: Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band
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