Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 925 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 30) 104.

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

October.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest tba
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: An Evening of Erykah Badu @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Cut Capers @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).
Thu 05: Northern Reaches @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Pete Tanton, Joe Steels, Laurence Blackadder, John Hirst.
Thu 05: Fergus McCreadie @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Fri 06: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 1/3.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Jazz Night: Bridget Metcalfe @ Saltburn House Hotel. From 6:00pm. Tickets: £40.00 (inc. a two-course meal & glass of Prosecco). Tel: 01287 658977.

Friday, October 17, 2025

Adrian Cox Trio @ the Lit & Phil @ the Black Swan - Oct. 17

© Mike Tilley
Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Alex 'Honey' Boulton (guitar, vocals); Alex Gilson (double bass, vocals)

The temporary shift from the Lit & Phil to the Black Swan should have been standing room only. However, thanks to a Metro problem (nothing new there) there were a few empty seats in the sold out venue. 

Nevertheless, those who did overcome adversity no doubt considered it well worth the effort. For me, having reviewed the trio's most recent release CLUB CROCO, I knew this was going to be a calming antidote to last night's Mercury Prize shindig.

The queue for albums afterwards (vinyl and CD) was possibly the longest I've ever witnessed at a jazz gig - the vinyl was all gone within minutes - which speaks volumes.

Cox is that rare breed who incorporates New Orleans' feeling with a virtuoso technique. He also has a pleasing voice which was heard to good effect on If I Let You Get Away With it Once, You'll do it All the Time and Mary Lou Williams' delightful ballad Why. On top of that he has an audience-catching personality.

© Mike Tilley
New Zealander Boulton sang Bluer Than Blue as well soloing and comping on acoustic guitar. A player of impeccable taste.

On bass, Paris based Gilson slotted in perfectly. Every note counted and when he sang J'attendrai it brought one lady, who shall be nameless, close to tears.

So if the Metro system's malfunction meant you missed this potential 'Gig of the Year' all is not lost. The Adrian Cox Trio's barnstorming north east tour continues as follows:
 
Sat 18: Adrian Cox Trio @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sun 19: Adrian Cox Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Adrian Cox Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.00., £13.00 adv., £7.00 (under 25s).
Mon 20: Adrian Cox Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 20: Adrian Cox Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Lance

I Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody; New Orleans Stomp; If I Let You Get Away With it Once, You'll do it All the Time; The Pearls; Courthouse Bump; Von Vivendo; Bluer Than Blue; Bandana Days; J'attendrai; Moulin à Café; Why; Buddy's Habits; Two Deuces.
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