Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

July

Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 23: Side Café Orkestar @ New castle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Balkan, Hot Club, Klezmer.
Thu 23: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 24: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, September 01, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: Alexia Gardner Trio - August 31

© Sheila Herrick
Alexia Gardner (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Jude Murphy (bass, backing vocals)

The Globe was packed, and why not? Concerts don't come much - if any - better than one by Alexia and her two (or four) confederates. 

Opening with Cheek to Cheek we were indeed in Heaven and with a new dimension - rap! Lots of local references had the audience on her side. It Might as Well be Spring; I Got Rhythm and a delightful The Nearness of You, with Jude's bass solo particularly impressive followed, leading to Devil May Care and some inside information on a future event.

The trio were all wearing Scarborough Jazz Festival t-shirts ahead of their appearance at said festival later this month where, with Abbie and Harry added to make it a quintet, the concert will be recorded live - watch this space.

Lady is a Tramp, complete with verse, swung merrily along before the last day of summer was 'celebrated' with that song.

The set closed with Bob Marley's No Woman, No Cry which added an exotic touch to the proceedings. 

Topped up my Diet Coke, exchanged pleasantries, then the second set was upon us.

Hallelujah I Just Love Him so; The Way You Look Tonight - no shortage of 'breathless charm' when Alexia's at the helm - Mo Better Blues with an arco intro from Jude and One Note Samba transported us to Brazil albeit in English.

Ben E. King's Stand by me would probably have upset the purists had there been any. As it was it went down well as did What a Wonderful World with the lyrics cleverly worked to compare the north east with London which, needless to say was greeted enthusiastically. No doubt our girl has an alternative version for Ronnie's or Pizza. 

An unaccompanied take on Bob Dylan's Forever You demonstrated just how beautiful her voice was before a song that was new to me - Get Here. The song lists ways of reaching the singer i.e by railway, trailway, airplane, caravan in fact everything but the 27 bus!

That was supposed to be it. The audience had different ideas so, by popular demand they went out on Marley's Jammin'.

A great gig and not forgetting the tremendous backing and solos from Alan and Jude. 

Next Sunday, as announced, it's the Ben Shankĺand Trio - all winners or finalists at the BBC's Young Jazz Musician of the Year awards. Lance

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