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

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

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).

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, October 26, 2025

Gary Crosby Quintet @ Loughton Baptist Church - Oct. 25

Kurt Mayling (trumpet); David Kayode (tenor sax, flute); Alex Ho (keyboards); Gary Crosby (double bass); Miranda Radford (drums) + Orphy Robinson (introductions)

The National Jazz Archive, based in Loughton, Essex, is an invaluable resource. In addition to its ongoing archiving activities, the NJA presents concerts on a regular basis. Away from its Loughton Library base, Loughton Baptist Church serves as its performance venue. This Saturday afternoon's concert featured the Gary Crosby Quintet. 

Now seventy years old, it doesn't seem like five minutes since bassist Crosby was blazing a trail with the Jazz Warriors. Here in Loughton, billed as How to Train Your Cat, More Mingus Moves,  Crosby's bandmates were of a younger generation. For a musician of such status, Crosby didn't seek to hog the limelight, far from it, happily shining the spotlight on his young charges.

Amazingly, Kurt Mayling (trumpet), David Kayode (tenor sax, flute), Alex Ho* (keyboards) and drummer Miranda Radford (a second year Trinity student) seemed to know each and every Mingus number Crosby called. What's more, across the course of two sets, there wasn't so much as a single page of sheet music or an iPad to be seen anywhere, on stage or off. 

The NJA's audience knew its stuff, applauding long and loud, mightily impressed not only with Crosby, but with the remarkable array of young talent on show. As the afternoon drew to a close Gary Crosby looked at his bandmates, suggesting 'A Train'. A collective nod of heads. They played it and how! A fabulous afternoon.       
* A year or two ago Alex Ho made a big impression at the now closed Prohibition Bar, Newcastle, in a duo performance with guitarist Tom Remon. Russell    

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