Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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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