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

Sunday, July 06, 2025

Just Friends @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - July 3

Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor/alto sax); Dave Archbold (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums)

This established band consisting as it does of well known and respected local jazz musicians gave an appreciative audience a night of well played and entertaining modern jazz.

Mercy Mercy Mercy, as composed by Joe Zawinul for Cannonball Adderley was a great driving number to start the night with, tenor sax, guitar and piano solos with fine bass and drum backing clearly showed we were in for a good night. This was followed by a relaxed version of Satin Doll with Richie blowing alto.

Ron played the bass intro to the Miles Davis All Blues and, after solos by tenor, guitar and piano, a nice bass solo. In complete contrast a great up tempo version of  the funky Pee Wee Ellis number Chicken was well played before the mood was again changed with a cool and melodic rendition of Time After Time.

The first set finished in fine style with the Quincy Jones Arrangement of Killer Joe. The driving funky rhythm set by bass and drums underpinning some passionate solos from guitar, tenor sax and keyboard.

The second set opened up with a swinging Just Friends solos all round  and fours led by Mark's fine drumming.

Herbie Hancock's funky Cantaloupe Island was enthusiastically played before Richie switched to alto for a beautiful and moving rendition of the classic  Erroll Garner composition Misty.

The up tempo Sonny Rollins' Tenor Madness produced excellent blues solos from all the band members and also showed how well they worked together as a unit. The Jazz Crusaders' Put It Where You Want It was another exciting number which brought another successful guest band night to a close.

Just Friends, led by Ian Bosworth, have been playing together now for several years so, as expected, we weren't disappointed.

Thanks as usual go to the staff of Dorman's Club in helping us to run the jazz club
Ron Hampton

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