Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Wed 17: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Spanish City, Whitley Bay. 12 noon. £29.00 (inc. bf). ‘Festive Lunch’. VCJ on stage 12 noon (three sets 'til 4:00pm).
Wed 17: Lazy River Band @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Veronica Perrin, Chris Perrin, John Farragher, Phil Rutherford
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Wed 17: A Jazzy Xmas @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone);Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ YOLO, Ponteland. 7:00pm. ‘Swing & Jazz Night’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 18: Joe Steels & Friends @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Fri 19: Fraser Urquhart @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! .
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. .
Fri 19: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy..
Fri 19: Paul Skerritt @ Middlesbrough Town Hall. 7:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes. .
Fri 19: Giles Strong Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club..
Fri 19: Creakin’ Bones & the Xmas Dinners @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £13.01 (inc. bf)..
Fri 19: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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 04, 2025

Special Announcement: 'The Scottish Connection' 11 June (a gentle tribute to Brian Kellock)

(Press release):The gig this evening was originally intended to feature one of the great Scottish jazz pianists (and old friend of the Club) Brian Kellock, but sadly Brian passed away just two weeks before he was due to appear here. We are hoping to host a Memorial concert for Brian in the early Autumn but tonight we felt it was appropriate to celebrate Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene (of which Brian was an integral part) by hosting an evening featuring just some of the many fine musicians who hail from there and who knew, respected and admired him.

Born and raised in Edinburgh Fraser Urquhart  is one of the UK's foremost jazz pianists. Cutting his teeth on the vibrant Scottish jazz scene Fraser fast became a first-call player for singers and horn players, appearing often at the Edinburgh & and Glasgow Jazz Festivals. Now based in London his fluent and exciting playing has been heard at all the major jazz venues both in his own right and as accompanist to a host of high profile jazz musicians including most recently the Award winning Scottish vocalist Georgia Cecile. A close associate of Brian’s it is with particular pleasure that we welcome this fine player to the Club this evening.

Glasgow-born double-bassist Calum Gourlay has been a sought after UK jazz presence for almost two decades. An alumni of the Royal Academy of Music he has worked regularly with some of the finest modern jazz musicians in the UK, including the likes of award winning musicians Kit Downes & Trish Clowes. More recently he has also established himself as a highly regarded composer and arranger. 

Also from Glasgow, since graduating as a gold medal student from Trinity Laban’s prestigious jazz course the multi-award winning drummer Corrie Dick has garnered a host of accolades. He includes work with the likes of Laura Jurd, Jasper Høiby, Elliot Galvin and Rob Luft on a sparkling cv as well as establishing his own music with his various highly acclaimed projects, including a very well received debut album which was nominated for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards' “Album of the Year”. More recently he has been impressing with his captivating solo shows which feature not only his jazz sensibilities but his extensive knowledge of World Music forms and rhythms.

Joining the trio will be two terrific Scottish musicians who were closer contemporaries of Brian; the wonderful cornet/trumpet player Bruce Adams and the iconic guitarist Jim Mullen. Performing with the likes of Harry Sweets Edison, Buddy Tate, Al Cohn and Benny Waters Bruce has been a stalwart of the UK jazz scene for almost 50 years and is undoubtedly one of the finest mainstream cornet/trumpet players in Europe. The multi-Award-winning Jim Mullen is widely regarded as one of the finest jazz guitarists on the international jazz scene. He has toured and worked with an impressive range of artists, including Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon and the Average White Band as well as being co-leader of the iconic jazz-funk band "Morrissey-Mullen". This promises to be a wonderful show in its own right, as well as a gentle tribute to one of Scotland’s master musicians.

“Urquhart…unfailingly elegant piano playing" Bebop Spoken Here; “Gourlay…his playing being both impressively agile…dexterous and highly melodic” The Jazz Mann; “Dick's playing is imaginative and sensitive to the players around him…[it] elevates and inspires” All About Jazz; “Adams…there is as much delicacy as power in his playing” Guardian; "Mullen…one of the great Jazz guitarists working today" Jazzwise

--
Laura G Thorne
Marketing Manager,
606 CLUB

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