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

Monday, October 06, 2025

Paul Smith Quartet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - Oct. 5

Paul Smith (drums); Liam Byrne (tenor/soprano sax; Derrick Harris (guitar); José Canha (bass)

© Jeff Pritchard
The thing that impressed me most about this drummer-led quartet was that they got the overall sound spot on. Liam Byrne is a familiar sight at the Moor Club but the rest of the musicians as far as I know have not played here before. Paul has his own successful jazz scene in Huddersfield at the Head  of Steam which I must visit when I get the chance to do so.

I had to get to the gig by taxi as once again  no trains but fortunately  I got the offer of a ride home thanks to  Moor Club regular Mike Egan.         

The music tonight was a mixture of standards plus a couple of tunes by Harris  which went down well - Days Gone By and I hear what You're saying.  Another great standard which Liam  did  well was Moonglow which makes me think of Picnic which happens to be my favourite film.  

Liam describes himself as a mainstream player but  he can fit in with any style of jazz He featured his vintage curved soprano on the closing number the Sydney Bechet composition Petite Fleur. I would hope that this combo make a return visit before too long as I  like the way they operate. Paul  thanked the audience for their applause and also thanked his bassman José  Canha from coming all the way from Portugal which got some laughs. The next Sunday Stockport Jazz (Oct. 12) will be the Mike Hall Quartet and Liam Byrne will be back here with his  own quartet on Nov. 9. Mike Farmer

Tangerine; Moonglow; Love me or Leave me; Days Gone By; Shiny Stockings; September Song; I Hear What Your Saying; Desifinado; Body and Soul; Petite Fleur.
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