Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: The ’58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club, West Park, 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 18: Brand New Heavies @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Lady Nade @ Middlesbrough Town Hall - June 8

Lady Nade (vocals); Sophie Stockham (tenor sax); Holly Carter (guitar); Ruth Hammond (piano); Chris Jones (double bass); Matt Brown (drums)

Middlesbrough Town Hall. Presenting Nina Simone's, at times, heavyweight material with a light touch, Lady Nade engaged an enthusiastic Sunday afternoon audience, an audience comprising an unusually high percentage of females.             
Based in Bristol, Lady Nade and her five piece band made the long journey north to Teesside to perform two sets of music by the renowned Nina Simone: Lady Nade sings Nina Simone: a Celebration of Her Legacy. Middlesbrough Town Hall's Court Room is a working court and a couple of numbers into her set Lady Nade threatened to have us 'taken down' if we didn't buy some 'merch'! 

Touring the length and breadth of the UK*, Lady Nade pays due respect to Eunice Kathleen Waymon (Nina Simone). Here on Albert Road, the presentation of Simone's many familiar/famous songs was wholly accessible. The afternoon was not so much about the life and times of the American musician and civil rights activist, no, the focus was on the music of Ms Simone.  

I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free to Ain't Got No - I Got Life to Love Me or Leave Me, the Bristolians hit the ground running. Pianist Ruth Hammond had it down, impressively so. From the off, bassist Chris Jones and drummer Matt Brown nailed it, impressively so. 

Work Song, Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put a Spell on You, My Baby Just Cares for Me - guitarist Holly Carter commendably restrained throughout the two sets, likewise tenor saxophonist Sophie Stockham, playing exactly what was required - and many more classic numbers hit the spot. Lady Nade can sing, that's for sure. A standing ovation spoke volumes.               

* Lady Nade appears at Gosforth Civic Hall on Friday 3 October. Book at: www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk. Russell
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