Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Isobel Pearce Quintet @ Durham Fringe Festival - July 23

Isobel Pearce (vocals); Paul Stead (guitar); Brian Clemens (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

As your correspondent walked up Saddler Street to Palace Green, who should be making her way to the same destination (Durham University's Music Department)? None other than Isobel Pearce! Making a first visit to the Land of the Prince Bishops, Isobel would soon play the first of two Durham Fringe Festival concerts.

Isobel and her regular guitarist Paul Stead were names new to BSH, the bass and drums - Andy Champion and John Bradford - were very familiar faces. Originally billed as a quartet, Isobel confided there would be a special guest joining the advertised line-up. Step forward established Los Angeles pianist, currently residing in London, Brian Clemens. Casual attire (likewise Paul, Andy and John), seated at the Palace Green Steinway, would our West Coast visitor impress?

Isobel's choice of material, plucked straight from the GASbook, would delight a full house. Night and Day - you can't go wrong, can you? Rarely exploring the highs and lows of the scale, Isobel's measured vocal style suited the occasion: Andy and John the perfect A-listers for an engagement such as this, guitarist Paul au fait with Isobel's approach to a lyric, Brian, light of touch, suggesting he was more than au fait with the material.

I Won't Dance (Isobel said she's a better singer than dancer, the image of someone who could dance - Fred Astaire - in the mind's eye), worked well. The audience loved it. Devils and moons featured prominently during the one hour set: Devil May Care, No Moon at All, Neil Young's non-GASbook Harvest Moon, and Isobel's debut single, Old Devil Moon. 

The Gershwins' But Not for Me vied for the number of the night, the musicians sounding as though they had been working together for years - it's the wonder of jazz! Isobel Pearce will play the second of two concerts at Durham University's Music Department at 8:00pm, Thursday 24 July. 

Set list: Night and Day; I Won't Dance; On the Street Where You Live; I've Grown Accustomed to Her/His Face; Devil May Care; Photograph; But Not for Me; No Moon at All; Harvest Moon; Old Devil Moon. 
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