Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

August

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Bold Big Band @ Cluny 2, Newcastle - Dec. 10

Bold Big Band: Jacob Lightfoot, Max Storey (alto sax); Jamie Toms, Georgia ? (tenor sax); Brian Wicks (baritone sax, MD); Billy Bradshaw, Bill Watson, Josh Skyrme, David ? (trumpets); Alex Utting, Bertie Marks, Thomas McDonald, Simon Hirst (trombones); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Marcus Dawe (piano); Ifede Osiyemi (bass guitar); Jack Littlewood (drums); Cara Britton (vocals)

The Bold Big Band down in the Ouseburn at this time of year can mean only one thing - Christmas at the Cluny! It's become an annual thing. Brian Wicks' roaring big band in Cluny 2, Christmas crackers, terrible jokes (courtesy of Mr B. Wicks), a beer or three and some cracking charts.

A Latin number for openers, Sammy Nestico's arrangement of Good Swing WenceslasIt's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year featuring bandleader Wicks' baritone sax, the Hip-Bone Big Band's Trombone Institute of Technology, a touch of Disney, Les Brown's Nutcracker Suite, the Bold Big Band knocked 'em out of the park.

Second set: Michel Camilo's One More Once, featuring depping tenor saxophonist Jamie Toms, raised the bar, a Tom Kubis arrangement of Deck the Halls reminded us the 'season to be' is almost upon us. Yes, more bold, brassy big band jazz from the Bold Big Band. 

And what of the band's vocalist? The Bold Big Band is known for, well, being 'bold'. Cara Britton came out fighting, determined to be heard, and heard she was! Singing half a dozen numbers across the evening, Ms. B gave it everything, not least on Deedle's Blues and Too Darn Hot

The Bold Big Band's trumpet section impressed, the rhythm section never took its foot off the gas all night, indeed all sections did the business. This being the season, O Tannenbaum put in an appearance, and, to close the show, Cara Britton returned to send us on our way with a raucous Let the Good Times RollRussell  

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