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

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

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: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Three performances: Grey St. 11:30am; Northumberland St. 2:30pm; Great North Museum 4:45pm.
Sat 08: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ FIKA Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £20.00.; £40.00. to inc. glass of fizz & food options.

Sun 09: Sticky Lips @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Various city centre locations/times.
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.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thursday, May 01, 2025

Guido Spannocchi Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle - April 30

© Ken Drew
Guido Spannocchi (baritone sax); John Pope (double bass); Steve Hanley (drums)

Did you know it was International Jazz Day? UNESCO, founded in 1945, puts its weight behind the initiative, an initiative designed to showcase jazz to the wider world. There was the option of watching a livestream from Abu Dhabi (Herbie Hancock, Emmet Cohen and others) or getting along to the Globe for a triple bill culminating in a headline appearance by Guido Spannocchi. 

On the last day of April - the 30th (International Jazz Day) - the sun shone and so, the Globe it was. It just so happens, actually by design, Newcastle Jazz Co-op purchased the Globe on Railway Street on this very day eleven years ago. There have been many ups and downs over the years - memorable gigs, funding issues, unexpected repair bills etc - but this was a day to celebrate all things jazz. 

© Ken Drew
At around quarter past eight, Guido Spannocchi took to the stage almost exactly twelve months to the day when the Vienna-born, London-resident saxophonist made his debut here at Jazz Co-op HQ. A year ago Spannocchi played alto sax. We were expecting the same this evening, however, our man picked up a baritone sax. In the company of bassist John Pope and drummer Steve Hanley, GS would play two sets of original music. 

Last year we heard a quartet (Danny Keane's piano the chordal instrument) go to work on GS's tunes, this evening there was much space for the trio of Spannocchi, Pope and Hanley to make their mark: Pope's authoritative, distinctive sound to the fore, Hanley's creative accents and inventive patterns all the more prominent. All to the good. Spannocchi's facility on the 'big beast' impressed the select audience, at least two of the numbers were played last year - Uphill Blues and A Walkin Yoyogi Park - which enabled those present last year and this to compare and contrast the bandleader's approach and effectiveness on alto (2024) and baritone (2025). 

© Ken Drew
Earlier in the day (it was a mid-afternoon start) the early birds were in on a SH#RP Collective public rehearsal led by Lindsay Hannon, followed by a full set of modern jazz charts courtesy of several of the mainstays of the long-running weekly (Wednesday) Take it to the Bridge session. Russell       
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