Happenstance @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - Nov. 30

Zdeněk Tománek (soprano sax); Noé Sécula (piano); Tommy Fuller (double bass); Luís Pérez-Villegas (drums)

They met as students studying in Basel. After a while each of them would go their own sweet way, since then, as and when schedules permit, the four members of Happenstance have continued to work together. A recent alignment of the stars enabled them to undertake a UK tour, this Hexham date one stop on their travels.

Bassist Tommy Fuller was the familiar face, the others were unknown quantities. The others being, from the Czech Republic, saxophonist Zdeněk Tománek, from France, pianist Noé Sécula, and from Spain, drummer Luís Pérez-Villegas. English being his first language, Fuller would do most of the talking.

A few November highlights

Six gigs I enjoyed in November (in alphabetical order):

Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio - the Globe

Paul Booth w. SSBB - Pilgrim

David Gray Flextet - the Globe

Groovetrain - Pilgrim

Lorne Lofsky/Nigel Price - the Globe

Tom Remon & Tony Ormesher - Lit & Phil

Jo Harrop & Paul Edis - Jazz FM (Sunday)

© Glenn Wright

This evening (Sunday 30th) Jo Harrop and Paul Edis can be heard in concert from Chapel Arts Centre, Bath. Tune to Jazz FM at nine o'clock for Nigel Williams Presents...Jo Harrop. 

Afterwards, log-on to these websites: 
www.theglasshouseicm.org 
www.thefirestation.org.uk 
www.queenshall.co.uk 

to book your seats for Paul Edis: A Jazzy Christmas featuring a host of A-listers including, of course, superstar Jo Harrop. Russell 

Film review: Blue Moon (Director: Richard Linklater) @ Tyneside Cinema - Nov. 29 (playing thru to Dec. 4)

The first biopic of composers Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart was Words and Music released back in 1948 starring Tom Drake and Mickey Rooney as the two principals.

The music was tremendous in the form of cameo appearances by, among others, Lena Horne (Lady is a Tramp) and Mel Tormé (Blue Moon). Sadly, the storyline didn't match the music. It was fictionalised beyond the bounds of  credibility. As one reviewer put it, Abbot and Costello would have been better suited to the lead roles!

No such problem with Blue Moon. Filmed on a single set depicting the bar of a plush hotel on Broadway, it depicts the decline and fall of Lorenz Hart, arguably the greatest lyricist of them all. Played by Ethan Hawke, he delivers, dare I say it? an Oscar winning performance depicting the demons and delusions of an artist watching on as his former songwriting partner Rodgers, played by Andrew Scott, is feted and fawned over by the cream of Gotham society after the triumphant first night of Oklahoma! Richard Rogers' first show with his new collaborator Oscar Hammerstein II.

Press release: Strictly Smokin's Christmas @ the O2 City Hall, Newcastle - Dec. 13 (6:00pm)

Black Friday ticket deal!

Pushing the boat out for our 15th year of Christmas shows... 

SSBB featuring Matt Ford, Bradley Creswick, Alice Grace and Northern Orchestra, plus world premieres from the pen of Stuart Mclean-Fowler...

This is shaping up to be the most wonderful Christmas show at City Hall... the band is sounding GREAT (video below!!), Matt Ford is poised to leap into action, Bradley Creswick is tuning his fiddle as we speak, Alice & Sanaz are sounding sublime, the orchestra is booked, and tickets are flying out...

...plus until Wednesday 3rd December you can grab Black Friday tickets with 30% off!

If you're travelling from further afield and making a weekend of it - we can recommend hotels and help you fill the rest of your weekend.

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm).

Playlist 30/11/25 (repeated Tuesday 02/12/25).  

Seasonal: Fats Waller.

Requests: Dave Brubeck, Count Basie.

What’s on in the NE: James Birkett & Emma Fisk, Alligator Gumbo, Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band: Nat Adderley, Billy Strayhorn.

Requests: Ted Greene, Stjepko Gut & the RTB Big Band.

New Release: John Donegan.

Memories: Wynton Kelly, Bob Cranshaw/Miles Davis.

Requests: Oliver Nelson, John Patitucci.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington Area or via your smart speaker. 

 https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen.

Album review: Tatum Langley - Tatum's Swingin' Session !!! (self-released)

Tatum Langley (vocals); Brett T. Dean (M.D., trumpet); Roger Ingram, Will Schmalbeck, John Dorhauer, Andrew Egizio (trumpets); Nick Roach, Andrew Meyer, Michael Nearpass, Ben Pederson, Ben Shanbaum (trombones); Ted Holtz, Ian Letts, Andy Schlinder, Bill Rank, Michael Kennedy, Karli Bunn, Jimmy Farace (saxes); Stuart Seale, Austyn Monk (piano); Ben Crino (guitar); Jack Sundstrom, Crystal Rebone (bass); T.J. Thompson (drums)

Does the front cover look familiar? You're damn right it does! Does the title, Swingin' Session !!! sound familiar? Check, you've got it - a playful take on Sinatra's 1961 Reprise album  of the same name and, like the original, it's a ring-a-ding-dinger!

Tatum has the ability to sell a song like few of her contemporaries can. Perfect pitching, jazzy phrasing, an amazing range  and the ability to do what it is says on the tin - swing! It comes as no surprise to find out that she has done tours of duty with PMJ.

Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - Nov. 28

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Gerry Richardson (piano); John Robinson (bass guitar); Scotty Adair (drums, vocals)

Torrential rain greeted our arrival in Monkseaton. Deciding to 'give it five' we sought shelter. The five came and went. What to do? There was nothing else for it. Off we went in to the monsoon. Arriving at our destination somewhat bedraggled, our landlord kindly pulled a pint of Taylor's Landlord.

A little rain wasn't going to deter Maureen Hall. Come rain or come shine, our bandleader has kept Rendezvous Jazz on the road for something like a quarter of a century. As usual here in Monkseaton, a seat with a clear view wasn't an option with all tables reserved by the Rendezvous faithful. As Maureen and the boys took to the floor, seats in the wings, with a partial view, were the best/only alternative. 

Preview: Organology @ The Exchange 1856 - Dec. 4

The Exchange 1856 is rapidly becoming a player. Not just locally or nationally but internationally too as indicated by saxist Donny McCaslin (David Bowie, Maria Schneider etc.) and world renowned American multi-Grammy nominated guitarist Julian Lage's recent appearances at the iconic North Shields' venue.

Those standards will be well and truly upheld on Dec. 4 with a concert by Organology, an organ trio comprising of three of the UK's finest musicians. With Ross Stanley on Hammond B3 organ, the amazing Joel Barford on drums and the legendary Gilad Atzmon on saxes and who knows what else?! the sparks will fly be it soul, rock, funk or jazz.

North Shields will never have experienced anything quite like it! Lance

The Exchange 1856, Howard St., North Shields, NE30 1 SE.

TICKETS

Preview: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe - Thursday Dec. 4

Why Don’t You do Right?, bring your Body and Soul and Get Out of Town (just near the arena actually) as you Come on Over to my Place, where you may find some Dancing in the Dark. These are just some of the songs that will be on the menu at our next gig, and you are most welcome and positively encouraged to join us upstairs at the Globe on Thursday. It might make a refreshing change from trudging round the shops and sitting in cafes hearing Stop the Cavalry by Jona Lewie, and Mariah Carey not wanting a lot for Christmas on a loop for the 600th time!

Stockport Jazz

This Sunday Stockport Jazz welcomes the Sam Lightwing Quintet to the Moor Club. The band features Sam Lightwing (saxophones), Will Bird (trumpet), Ethan Gillespie (piano), Peter Hartley (bass) and Callum Montgomery (drums).

The concert is being promoted with support from Jazz North’s New Northern scheme to assist the development of new emerging jazz talent across the region. 

Sunday 30th November 2025

8-10pm, doors open at 7.30pm

£5 entry on the door, all welcome

The Moor Club, 35 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport SK4 4PB  (next to the Elizabethan PH)

Free Zoom Sessions for School Bands

(NYC based trumpet player Nick Mondello is a regular contributor to BSH and this free project is worth following up by anyone involved with jazz education in schools. Lance)

Friends of Big Band Jazz, the Kenton Legacy Orchestra and Stan Kenton Band lead trumpet, Mike Vax, in conjunction with Big Toots Enterprises (that's me!) are offering free live zoom session clinics for middle and high school jazz ensembles this coming school year. 

Our highly-experienced jazz clinicians include former members of the Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, "Tower of Power" ensembles and other LA and NY studio A-Listers. 

Clinics are delivered via zoom and are done live. 

Preview: A Jazzy Christmas @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead.

Paul Edis (MD, piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax); Faye Thompson (alto sax, clarinet); Sue Ferris (flute, piccolo); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Emma Fisk (violin); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums).

It's that most wonderful time of the year again or so we are told and sometimes its true - particularly when Paul Edis' Jazzy Christmas play their annual concert(s) at the Glasshouse and other north east venues.*

It's always a fun occasion. The woes of the world can be put on hold and, for a couple of hours, be transported to a Christmas time just like the ones we used to know. The music will be the same but better. How could it not be with the all-star cast listed above?

Jazz on the Tyne – What’s On & What’s New, December 2025

Ahead of his Christmas show, presenter Colin Muirhead looks ahead to gigs coming soon and showcases new music in the latest edition of his podcast.  You’ll hear tracks by the Abbie Finn Trio, Tom Waits for No Man, ATFK, the Vieux Carré Jazzmen, Maria Kaushansky, Theo Croker & Sullivan Fortner, Women in Jazz feat. Emma Johnson, Louis Stewart & Brian Dunning, John Donegan, and Jon Batiste.

You can listen to the show anytime HERE.

Plus, you can request music for future programmes, or pass on news or feedback by emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com or by heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.

EFG Jazz Festival: Joe Thompson Quartet @ The Ivy, West Street, London - Nov. 26

Joe Thompson (piano); Jo Harrop (vocal); Artie Zaitz (guitar); Neville Malcolm (double bass). 

There are few rooms in London that carry quite the same hush of anticipation as the private upstairs space at The Ivy. For the inaugural—and now, one suspects, annual—EFG Jazz Festival at The Ivy Club, that hushed expectation gave way to the warm glow of a packed members’ room as long-standing house pianist and musical director Joe Thompson assembled a finely tuned quartet featuring Artie Zaitz, Neville Malcolm, and the ever-compelling Jo Harrop.

Thompson set the tone straight out of the gate with a beautifully measured arrangement of Cole Porter’s Easy To Love, his playing revealing both a deep reverence for the material and an instinctive understanding of the room’s intimacy. Harrop’s entrance confirmed what many in the audience already knew: this was a space tailor-made for her voice—capable of whisper-soft delicacy one moment and resonant, room-filling power the next. Thompson, Zaitz, and Malcolm supported her with the kind of restraint that speaks of years spent listening as much as playing, giving Harrop the latitude to unearth the emotional grain of every lyric.

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (Nov. 27 - Dec. 3)

Oscar Peterson: Blueberry Hill (01:51).

Buck Clayton: After Hours (07:07).

Lee Wiley: Any Time, Any Place, Anywhere (17:45).

Maynard Ferguson: The Flow (20:40).

Mel Tormé: Blue Moon (23:20).

Louis Armstrong/Ella Fitzgerald: Cheek to Cheek (29:00).

Jonah Jones: Tin Roof Blues (35:00).

Sinatra, Basie @ the Sands: Fly me to the Moon (41:20).

Erroll Garner: Where or When (44:14). 

Patti Dunham: Flamingo (47:15).

Coleman Hawkins: Body and Soul (50:15).

Billie Holiday: As Time Goes By (53:55).

Listen 24/7

An Interview with Trumpeter, Composer, Recording Artist, Producer, Educator and Author Keith Fiala

Another interview by our man  in NYC, Nick Mondello. This time it's fellow trumpet ace Keith Fiala who talks to Nick about playing and learning alongside trumpet giants Maynard Ferguson and Arturo Sandoval. Lance

Rhodes TRIOLOGY sessions: Mike Lindup

Catch the Mike Lindup Trio @ Pilgrim on Dec. 10. Amazing genre mix. Can't wait!

Nova Radio News

Steve T is  back on Thursday at 8:00pm 'til 10:00pm with the best of the soul scene as well as the best of the rest which covers a wide ground. Check out the link to the previous edition of his regular show to get a taste.

LINK to previous show.

Eddie Henderson @ London Jazz Festival, Pizza Express - Nov. 20

Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Matyas Gayer (piano); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); Stephen Keogh (drums).

Although he's been playing straight jazz for years now, the good doctor (he maintained a career as a doctor of medicine also) was one of the first jazz artists I listened to, back in the days of jazz-funk in the seventies. A fine trumpet player, at the time I'd have filed him with Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd.

And he introduced his pieces, generally giving the composer: Be Cool written by his wife who was there, Wayne Shorter's El Gaucho and Sweet and Lovely, in 3:4 time - in case anybody fancied waltzing - which he first heard by Booker Little or Frank Sinatra, who he thought may have written it, which I doubt.

Album review: Lena Bloch - Marina (Fresh Sounds Records)

Lena Bloch (tenor/soprano sax); Kyoko Kitamura (vocals); Jacob Sacks (piano); Ken Filiano (bass); Michael Sarin (drums).

They are out there, in the distant corners of the jazz universe and they’re making albums like this. Lena Bloch is an (eventually) New York resident (via Russia and Israel) and the chances of coming across her work are quite slim so it’s always a joy to hear an album this good from someone you’ve never heard of before, (and in all likelihood, will never hear from again). It’s adventurous, immersive, rich and dense and deeply felt. A piece of work that tears at the heart. I suspect that it started as an intellectual exercise before the emotion and passion took over. The music is Bloch’s settings for poems by exiled Russian Marina Tsvetaeva who lived in Eastern Europe, and later Paris in those febrile decades between the wars and the societies she lived in and the surrounding political upheaval inform her work. Bloch has attempted to capture some of the flavour of those times in her music from the very start. She is not the first person to set Tsvetaeva’s poems to music, several classical composers, including Shostakovich, have also taken her on.

18K posts on BSH

Yes we've hit the 18,000 mark which is over a 1000 posts per year. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Lance

A Sassy Emma Smith takes home silver!

Emma Smith (Vocalist of the Year, 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards) has been on BSH's radar for some time: the Puppini Sisters, Postmodern Jukebox, Ronnie Scott's (Meshuga Baby, September 2022), guest vocalist with Tyneside's Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Newcastle's Common Room (September 2024), vocalist with NYJO at the 2012 Scarborough Jazz Festival.   

Dave O'Higgins Quartet - Take the Coltrane @ London Jazz Festival, Pizza Express, Soho - Nov. 19

Dave O'Higgins (tenor/soprano sax), Graham Harvey (piano), Geoff Gascoyne (bass), Sebastiaan de Krom (drums).

But Not For Me from the album My Favorite Things from 1960. That's what we like, informative introductions, since I stopped trying to remember titles a long time ago, particularly instrumentals with nothing to hang on to. Mr. Syms from Plays the Blues featuring O'Higgins on soprano. An instrumental version of Dedicated for You  from the album with singer Johnny Hartman and Bessie's Blues from Crescent, referencing A Love Supreme, the previous album in Coltrane's discography.

Triveni Quartet Homage to Ustad Zakir Hussain @ London Jazz Festival, Ismaili Centre - Nov. 20

Kala Ramnath (violin), Jayanthi Kumaresh (saraswati veena), Fazal Qureshi (tabla), Anantha R. Krishnan (mridangam).

I always look at the London Jazz Festival with a view to finding three or four concerts over two or three days. This afternoon session was the one that sold it to me this this year, with concerts that night and the night before. It nearly didn't happen as it speedily and unexpectedly (to me) sold out. Days of badgering, hounding and harassment went unnoticed until the day before when I received a message to say they'd asked the festival to make more tickets available.

Zakir Hussain has been a big deal to me since he blew John McLaughlin off the stage the first time Shakti reunited in 1997, fifty years after the partition of India and Pakistan. I've seen him since with another version of Shakti and with Chris Potter and Dave Holland.

Sunday night @ the Globe: Greg Abate w. the Dean Stockdale Trio - Nov. 23

© John Lyons

Greg Abate (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Ken Marley (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

A taxi dash from Pilgrim St. to Railway St. got me to the Globe in time to catch the great American alto saxophonist Greg Abate. A JNE/Jazz Co-op c0-promotion, this gig too was well-attended and deservedly so.

© John Lyons

Abate has made many appearances in the north east dating back to the early days of BSH when the Corner House was still the epicentre of Newcastle's jazz scene. Indeed Greg was probably one of the last American 'names' to play there.

Since then there have been few jazz venues he hasn't played at in the area, often with varying personnel and always with a positive response. This line-up is probably as good as any and they responded intuitively to the twists and turns he often indulged in.

Groovetrain @ Pilgrim, Newcastle - Nov. 23

© Anon

Michael Lavery (vocals/guitar); Angela Newbrook, Steph Kay, Rebecca Patton (vocals); Les Watts (keys); Mitch Laddie (guitar/vocals); John Dawson (bass guitar); Ian Halford (drums/vocals); Si King (perc.); Danny Allan (saxes); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone); Ross Laing (trumpet).

Pilgrim (Hoochie Coochies as was) on Pilgrim St., welcomed the many that had made the pilgrimage to the iconic music venue in Newcastle city centre. I doubt if as many pilgrims had made it to Lourdes. Why should they? Groovetrain weren't there, they were here in Newcastle and, as usual, pulling in their own following. Needless to say the Sold Out signs were flashed up.

The fans had travelled far and wide to hear/see the band. A group near me were from Liverpool or maybe they were staying at the big, posh Hotel Gotham  opposite on the site of the old fire station.

Max Roach is Composer of the Week!

Tomorrow (Monday 24 November) and all week, the great Max Roach will be Radio 3's Composer of the Week. Most weeks the programme features a long dead classical music composer, it makes a pleasant change when a jazz musicians makes the cut. Join presenter Kate Molleson and Kevin LeGendre as they explore the life and work of Maxwell Lemuel Roach (1924-2007). BBC Radio 3, 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Russell    

Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields - Nov. 22

Paul Skerritt (vocals); Dan Johnson, Alan Marshall, Kim Skerritt, Josh Bentham, Niall Armstrong (reeds); Sam Armstrong, Benny Coxon, Dave Hignett, Michael Lamb (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Eddie Bellis, Alex Utting, Chris Gray (trombones); Stu Collingwood (keyboards); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass); John Bradford (drums); Stuart Fowler (MD)

It's become an annual thing. Hire a local venue, promote a concert featuring many of the region's familiar A-listers, an audience materialises and the man has got himself a big band gig. The Westovian Theatre is local to 'the man', that's vocalist Mr Paul Skerritt. At a little after half past seven, the Paul Skerritt Big Band hit the stage. 

It's not quite the season to be jolly, however, this evening on Pier Parade signalled the start of the festivities. A bundle of energy is Mr Skerritt, How do you do? enquired Mr S, I've got you under my skin - you knew it was coming, Kieran Parnaby giving it the Milt Bernhart treatment It works every time!

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (Nov. 27-Dec. 3)

Marian McPartland: Stairway to the Stars.

Stan Getz: Summertime.

Frankie Laine: That Old Feeling.

André Previn: I'll String Along With You.

Nat 'King' Cole: I Love You For Sentimental Reasons.

Rosemary Clooney: Tenderly.

Buddy DeFranco: The Song is You.

Tony Bennett: The Shadow of Your Smile.

Oscar Peterson: I Know You So Well.

Blossom Dearie: 'Deed I Do.

Dave Brubeck: What is This Thing Called Love?.

Diana Krall: I Thought About You.

Listen 24/7.

Album review: Gareth Lockrane Big Band - Box of Tricks (Whirlwind)

Gareth Lockrane (concert/alto/bass flutes, piccolo, composer, arranger); Sam Mayne, Mike Chillingworth (alto/soprano sax, clarinet); Graeme Blevins, Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax, flute); Tom Smith (baritone sax, bass clarinet); Tom Walsh, James Davison, Steve Fishwick, Henry Collins (trumpets); Trevor Mires, Mark Nightingale, Olli Martin (trombones); Barry Clements (bass trombone); Ross Stanley (piano, Rhodes, B3); Mike Outram (guitar); Ryan Trebilcock (electric/acoustic bass); Ian Thomas (drums); Hugh Wilkinson (percussion) + Pat Levett (harmonica on tk 4)

All the People features leader Lockrane on flute, well it would wouldn't it seeing as it's his band and he just happens to be the best jazz flautist in this sceptered isle?! Nightingale and Stanley also do some ass-kicking on trombone and Hammond respectively. It's a hard swinger with some contemporary touches. At times, even a degree of gentility sneaks in.

Box of Tricks has mood changing moments on this, the title track. It's a complex arrangement and a credit to the musicians who, after many hours of rehearsal, got to grips with this and the rest of the compositions on the album. Lockrane and Outram solo to great effect. Strangely, Outram isn't listed among the album's personnel although he is included among the soloist credits.

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm).

Playlist 23/11/25 (repeated Tuesday 25/11/25)

Requests: Sarah Vaughan & Count Basie Orchestra, Buddy Rich Big Band.

RIP: Jack DeJohnette.

Requests from Bishop Auckland gig: Jesús Molina, Bob Berg, Dave Brubeck Quartet.

New Releases: Ben Wilcock/John Rae, Sara Colman and Rebecca Nash.

Pete Tanton's Chet Set @ Sunderland Minster - Nov. 21

© Ken Drew

Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

A bitterly cold evening, potentially a skating rink underfoot, few would venture out - or would they? Sunderland's 'Cultural Quarter' is thriving. On this Friday evening, the Fire Station presented Dusty (Dusty Springfield), the adjoining Engine Room pub and restaurant was fully booked, the Dun Cow was doing a roaring trade (when doesn't it?), Top Hat (yes, a Fred and Ginger show) was pulling them in at the Empire, the Peacock's regulars were enjoying a rockabilly session and Sunderland Minster was about to host the latest Old Black Cat Jazz Club concert.

Jazz @ the Lit & Phil: Tom Remon and Tony Ormesher - Nov. 21

© Patti

Tom Remon, Tony Ormesher (guitars)

JATLP marches on relentlessly. Even the icy roads and pavements failed to deter all but the fainthearted few.

They were well rewarded!

In a week that hasn't been short of world class jazz guitarists - Nigel Price and Lorne Lofsky at Hexham and the Globe last Sunday provided the yardstick - and Remon and Ormesher didn't pale by comparision.

Seated as I was, almost as close to Tony as his plectrum, it was a visual delight to observe the dexterity with which both guitarists displayed their mastery of the fingerboard, something that was denied me last week at the Globe.

Album review: Groover Gregory Jr.: Old Knew (Criss Cross)

Gregory Groover Jr. (tenor sax, composer); Joel Ross (vibes); Paul Cornish (piano); Harish Raghavan (bass); Kendrick Scott (drums)

Recorded in NYC on January 6 this year, the cleverly titled Old Knew features five of that city's finest in a programme consisting of eleven of the leader's originals.

Without giving a blow by blow account, it's suffice to say that this is probably going to be one the best of this month's new releases - probably although the contenders are arriving fast and furiously so who knows?

Album review: Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Seek and Listen: Live @ the Penthouse (Resonance Records)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (tenor sax, flute, manzello, stritch, whistles, vocal etc); Rahn Burton (piano); Steve Novoset (bass); Jimmy Hopps ( drums)

It was back in 1967 when I was incredibly fortunate to hear Roland Kirk at one of the Durham colleges and, to this day it remains high on the list of my all-time greatest gigs. I drove home in a trance absolutely mesmerised by what I'd heard.

That was the same year that this very same quartet recorded Seek and Listen at the Penthouse Club in Seattle so, in many ways, I'm reliving the past with the comforting knowledge that my judgement hasn't been nostalgically coloured over the ensuing 58 years.

Jeff Guntren-Kerry Williams Sextet @ Llandudno Jazz Club - November 17

Jeff Guntren  (tenor sax);  Kerry Williams (alto sax); Neil Yates (trumpet}; Johnny Hunter (drums);  Richard Harrold (keyboards); Grant Russell (double bass)

A truly international jazz evening in Llandudno, North Wales on  November 17. A sextet led by two saxophonists born in the US. Kerry Williams on alto sax currently based in London but originally from Oregon and bringing with him from Oregon friends and family and Jeff Guntren on tenor sax now based in the Manchester area but originally from Iowa. These two very talented musicians first met at university in New Jersey 25 years ago. Rarely has Llandudno Jazz Club been blessed by six musicians in this small intimate pub.

Stockport Jazz

This week Stockport Jazz welcomes the legendary Manchester based drummer and percussionist Dave Hassell and his Latin jazz band, Apitos Pequeno. The line-up comprises Andy Scott (saxophones), Rob Palmer-Fenny (bass), Paul Kilvington (piano), Chris Manus (conga) and Dave Hassell (drums/timbales).

Sunday 23rd November 2025

8-10pm, doors open at 7.30pm

£5 entry on the door, all welcome

The Moor Club, 35 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport SK4 4PB  (next to the Elizabethan PH)

Press release: The Down for the Count Swing Orchestra return with their annual festive favourite!

© Marcus Chater

Look who’s coming to town! Over the past few years, the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra have dazzled audiences around the country with their festive extravaganza Swing Into Christmas – and they’ll be back on the road again this year to spread cheer in their inimitable style.

The show is rapidly becoming a Christmas tradition for audiences across the country, and it’s easy to see why fans keep coming back for more – not only does the show fizz with all the joy and warmth of the season in terms of the tunes, but the anecdotes and trademark on-stage banter make you feel as if you’re spending an evening with old friends.

The Finn-Keeble Group @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Nov. 17

© Roly

Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (keyboards); John Pope (double bass)

A recently formed ensemble, comprising four established figures on the region's jazz scene, would entertain the faithful at Blaydon Jazz Club. Arriving at the Black Bull on Bridge Street in bitterly cold temperatures, it would be an evening of coats and scarves worn, by musicians and punters alike. 

Bebop Spoken Here shoots Greg Abate

The recent post re the return to the north east of top pro photographer John Lyons is welcome news. However, it mustn't be allowed to overshadow the stellar work that our regular photographic team have, over the years, contributed to Bebop Spoken Here.

In the collage three of them are represented with shots of American saxmaster Greg Abate who returns to the Globe this Sunday in what promises to be another outstanding gig.

The three photographers represented are (l to r): Malcolm Sinclair, Ken Drew and Jerry Edis. Mike Tilley should also have been included but, on the occasion of Greg's gig at the Black Swan Mike must have been sans camera. Lance

Press release: Music Photographer Coming Home

Billy Cobham © John Lyons

John Lyons is an award-winning photographer specialising in live music and portrait photography, with a particular focus on photographing jazz musicians. 

John lives in Durham but, until recently, has worked in London in the technology industry. For the last ten years, he has been capturing musicians in jazz clubs, recording studios and other locations in London, with the occasional trip to New York. More locally, John has also captured musicians and performers in the north east, including being official photographer for the 2023 Hexham Jazz Festival and the 2024 and 2025 Durham Fringe Festivals.

In his photography, he aims to convey the passion and feeling behind the music and performer rather than just a straight capture of the event or gig. He believes that a great music photographer needs to be in love with the music and be able to anticipate and capture the expressive moments – capturing performers ‘in the moment’.

Press release: Sleep Suppressor + Christie-Chan Duo + Liam & Shayo @ the Globe - Nov. 27

On Thursday 27 November The Globe is hosting a triple bill that stretches the definition of jazz – from the Great American Songbook to video-game music.

The headline act is Sleep Suppressor, a contemporary jazz-rock band playing original music composed by George Ivanov (guitar) and Haaruun Miller (saxes) who both trained under Paul Edis. They are supported by the powerful rhythm section of Dave Parker (bass) and Joe Deans (drums). Since launching in January 2023, Sleep Suppressor has wowed audiences in jazz and rock venues in the North East and recently in Leeds and Nottingham.