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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

From This Moment On ...

March

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.

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Stephen Joshua Sondheim.
Thu 19: FILM: Köln 75 @ Forum Cinema, Hexham. 7:30pm. £10.00., £7.00., £3.00. Dir. Ido Fluk. Fictional account of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln concert. A Tyne Valley Film Festival preview screening.
Thu 19: Ransom Van @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 20: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Theon Cross + support @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £13.31., £11.16., £9.04. Support set feat. members of balletLORENT’s Creative Studio in association with NYJO.
Fri 20: Groove Crusade @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00. CANCELLED!
Fri 20: Jason Isaacs Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £32.00.
Fri 20: Joe Steels Group @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £12.00. +bf, £15.00. on the door. A Blue Patch album tour. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 20: Middlesbrough Jazz & Blues Orchestra @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ Riverdale Hall Hotel, Bellingham NE48 2JT. Tel: 01434 220254. 8:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Mark Toomey Quintet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.

Sat 21: Freetime Old Dixie Jass Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. FODJB (Holland).
Sat 21: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sat 21: Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22:Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, 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

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Scarborough Jazz Festival - Friday evening (Sept. 26)

Scarborough Jazz Festival - Friday evening (Sept. 26)

The Friday evening session here on South Bay attracted a similarly large crowd to the afternoon's opening programme. And little wonder with Trish Clowes, Gaz Hughes and Alan Barnes on the bill.
 

Trish Clowes: My Iris


Taking to the stage, Trish Clowes informed the audience that due to a family illness, Chris Montague was unable to appear. In guitarist Montague's absence, Clowes chose to perform her set of original material and select standards as a trio: Clowes, Ross Stanley (sitting at his vintage Hammond) and drummer Joel Barford.       


Trish Clowes (tenor sax); Ross Stanley (piano, Hammond organ); Joel Barford (drums)

 

A slew of original numbers, some of them new, Jobim's Midnight Sun, Richard Rodgers, Clowes appeared to be in a relaxed mood. As and when required, Stanley stoked the fires and Barford needed little encouragement. A fine, mature set from Clowes and co.   

  

Gaz Hughes Trio


Andrzej Baranek (piano); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums)

 

If Gaz Hughes is on the bill you're guaranteed a bop-infused set. Our amiable drummer wasn't about to disappoint and he didn't. Mixing original compositions with choice standards, the Gaz Hughes Trio grabbed the attention of a near full house. It's Hughes' trio, for sure, however, it helps to have a marvellous pianist on the gig. The marvellous pianist in question being Andrzej Baranek. Frequently winning applause for some scintillating work, Baranek acknowledged his audience, frequently giving it 'thumbs up'. Bassist Gavin Barras swung it - when doesn't he? The Gaz Hughes Trio is a festival favourite, a jazz club favourite, quite simply, a favourite trio.          


Alan Barnes' Works of Art


The name 'Alan Barnes' is synonymous with Scarborough Jazz Festival. For many years AB has been festival compere here at Scarborough. It seems as though our reedsman knows everyone at the Spa. Come to think of it, he probably does.     

                           

Alan Barnes (sax); James Davison (trumpet); Robin Aspland (piano); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Steve Brown (drums)

In this, the centenary year of Art Pepper (b.1.9.2025), Alan Barnes wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to tip his hat to the great American alto saxophonist. Angel Wings, Las Cuevas de Mario, Mambo del la Pinta, Barnes was, as ever, 'on it'. The rhythm section - pianist Robin Aspland, and the two Browns (Jeremy, double bass, Steve, drums) - couldn't be bettered. The set's revelation came in the form of trumpeter James Davison. Known to BSH as a section player with several big bands, including the BBC Big Band and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, this small group engagement enabled Barnes' front line partner to be heard to great effect. Superb! It had been an excellent first day here at the 2025 Scarborough Jazz Festival. Russell    

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