Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18482 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 346 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 30 ) 80

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

May

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only). SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 4:00-6:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 07: Robert Finley @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Excellent US falsetto soul/blues voice.
Thu 07: ALT @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker. Thu 07: Liam & Shayo @ The Globe , Newcastle. 8:00pm. £5.00. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.

Sat 09: SH#RP Collective w. Lindsay Hannon @ Church of Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00 (inc. a welcome drink). Advance booking essential. Bring own snacks, drinks to be purchased at ‘donations’ bar. All proceeds to charity. A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sat 09: East Coast Swing Band @ Jubilee Hall, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £10.00.

Monday, November 10, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: David Gray Flextet - Nov. 11

© Richard Davies
David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone, vocals); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugel, vocals); Alan Law (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather (drums)

There was a buzz in the air at the Globe last night. There always is when David Gray and his Flextet are the featured band. Tables, chairs and audience were shuffled around to accommodate the goodly crowd who'd braved the weather to be entertained. Yes, jazz and entertainment don't have to be separate entities - they never are when 'Showtime' is calling the shots.

A Horace Silver influenced Gray original, Silver Orcas, got things underway. Sedate solos by the horns led to a finale that wasn't sedate. Mather's drum break brought the first of his trademark grins to the fore. It was the first of many. He enjoys his work.

Another original, Angular Moments was fast with Mather unleashing the kind of drum solo that most bands save for the grand finale  but, this isn't 'most bands' it's the David Gray Flextet.

Restless Mind was followed by Cat Bells. A tune, David explained, that he composed whilst walking down a mountain in the Lake District. It begins in 3/4 time. I'd have thought walking down mountains in 3/4 time could be a bit risky, however, it soon switched to 4/4 and the mountain rescue team weren't called out.

Pete Tanton lent his Chet Baker chops to Jobim's Wave singing and playing like the tragic legend himself before the set closed with It's Possible. Tanton had some strange device attached to his Harmon mute that produced a unique tone whilst, overall the sound was almost ethereal via some electronic unit.

Interval time. Nobody left and it was good to catch up with friends and acquaintances past and present.

© Richard Davies
Back on stage the 'Flexies' opened the second set with a tune that may, or may not have been, called Cast From the Sky. It had a catchy theme with a sound bass intro from Mr Dependable Paul Grainger - right on the money - and some fine solos.

So far, David's vocal chords had been kept in check but that was soon to change with Sénor Blues. Our man was in good voice following up with a 'bone blast that didn't hurt. He hung on to the mic for that wartime classic I'll be Seeing You which seemed appropriate for Remembrance Day. It was quite delightful. If he'd been born in Hoboken they'd have named a street after him!

Early November Valentine (did I get that right?!) then  a classic by J.J. Johnson/Nat Adderley - Cyclops. Everyone gave 110% here. David leapt up and down playing trombone, Law was cracking walnuts and finding the lost chord, Mather out-smiled a dozen Cheshire cats whist Grainger and Tanton stayed within the bounds of sanity (just!).

The show came to close with Neon Lights. Pete vocalised in English, David did likewise in German as well as acknowledging any celebrities in the room (joke).

It had been quite a night! Lance
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