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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

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.

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits For No Man @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Oct. 24

© Ken Drew
Lindsay Hannon (vocals, bass, angklung*); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass, voice); Brendan Murphy (various percussion items, vocal)

It was cold, wet and windy on this dark Friday night and I pondered upon the wisdom of gambling on a couple of Metro trains getting me to Gosforth for an evening of the music/lyric poetry of Tom Waits as performed by Lindsay Hannon and co.

Upon reflection, the weather was just right for the poetic words of Waits - he doesn't do nice or sweet - it's gritty streetlife and Lindsay has the voice to bring the words and the music into an emotional cinematic landscape. Let's face it, this singer could make the Financial Times on a bad day for the FTSE 100 sound good. 

© Ken Drew
Apart from Lindsay, Alan Law was as super supportive as ever, his solos and accompaniment just so so right. Apart from Mr PG's bass playing Paul also voiced (more than talking, less than singing) the words to Frank's Wild Years. It was an effective closure to the first set and an opportunity for Lindsay to play bass. Brendan's assortment of percussive items had everything but the kitchen sink including a heavy duty spanner and a leather boot. The latter two items provided backing to his vocal on Come up to the House from Wait's album Mule Variations.

© Ken Drew
The lighting in the hall was appropriately dimmed so I just had to scribble in the dark and I didn't always get the correct titles in the correct order and sometimes I was so captivated I had to rely on memory. There was also an original by Lindsay the title of which I didn't catch. 

Despite the weather - the journey home was forecast to be even worse - there was a good turn out and I doubt if anyone's spirits were dampened by what they heard. Lance

* Angklung - Indonesian percussion instrument.

(Not in order):Way Down in the Hole; Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis; Fumblin' With the Blues; Tango 'Til They're Sore; Picture in a Frame; Little Boy Blue; ? (Lindsay original); Frank's Wild Years (voiced by Paul); Chocolate Jesus; Johnsburg Illinois; Jockey Full of Bourbon; Soldier's Things; Warm Beer and Cold Women; Jesus Gonna be Here; Down, Down, Down; Martha; Pasties and a G-String; Come on up to the House (Brendan vcl); Telephone Call From Istanbul; The Piano Has Been Drinking.

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