Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Monday, October 06, 2025

Pensacola Boulevard @ Dorman's Jazz Club Middlesbrough - Oct. 2

Django Zazou (trombone/vocals); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax/clarinet); Neil Brodie (trumpet); Dave Archbold (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums); Vicky Jackson (vocals). 

Making their second visit as guest band this group of familiar and respected  local jazz musicians gave us a great night of entertainment with an eclectic mix of jazz and popular numbers.

A lively start was made with Vicky singing Goody Goody, it had  the band really swinging and nice solos from Neil on trumpet and Donna on clarinet.
Django then sang After You Get What You Want, with a nice bass intro from Ron.

A fine version of the popular Unchain My Heart, well sung by Vicky with full band backing. Mambo Italiano was then followed by a moving Carly Simon ballad.
 
Nobody Does It Better, taken from the film The Spy Who Loved Me, sung beautifully by Vicky included a nice piano intro from Dave and tenor sax from Donna.

Further numbers included Mess Around, Minor Swing, Orange Colored Sky, Hallelujah I Just Love Him So, before Vicky then sang with great gusto the Dolly Parton classic number Nine To Five.

Mark on drums and Ron on bass then set up a great Cuban rhythm for Django to sing Mama Inez, a well played number with fine trumpet, clarinet and piano solos from Neil, Donna and Dave respectively bringing the first set to a close.

The up tempo jazz/pop number Pencil Full Of Lead, with great drumming from Mark gave a lively start to the second set, this was then followed by Benny Golson's Killer Joe, with trumpet and clarinet soloing over excellent backing from the rhythm section.

Skyfall gave Vicky the chance to show her versatility as a singer as did Midnight In Moscow, for Django along with fine piano work from Dave.
Further numbers included Cheek To Cheek, Minnie The Moocher, and I Love Being Here With You. A nice Aretha Franklin version of Otis Redding's Respect  was meant to finish the night but an encore was demanded so Bessie Smith's Gimme A Pigfoot was provided by Vicky again singing with trumpet, clarinet, piano and trombone solos making for a great finish.

This was a different but certainly entertaining night of well played jazz that went down well with the audience.

Once again thanks go to the staff of Dorman's Club for their help and support with the night. Ron Hampton
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