Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18982 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 846 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 8.) 25.

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.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 4:45pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
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.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 15: Leah Kirk: A Strange Affair @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Leah Kirk (vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 15: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. PJO w. guest Graham Hardy (trumpet).

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: Ancient Infinity Orchestra @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 16: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01. adv.; £15.00. on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick. 8:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: SunOrbitUs @ Culture House, Sunderland. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Closing event in a year-long piece of music. 11:00am-1:00pm Improvisation workshop w. Faye MacCalman; 2:00-5:00pm Collective Improvised Performance by Sunderland residents. SOLD OUT!
Sat 17: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 17: Martin Taylor @ Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £48.72; £43.37. Solo guitar.

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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