Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18413 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 277 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 7 ) 11,

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

April

Thu 09: Tom Remon + Laurence Harrison @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: Michael Littlefield @ The Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Blues.
Thu 09: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra w. Dan Johnson @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. £15.00. inc. bf.

Fri 10: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels: Celebrating Wes Montgomery @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Joe Steels, Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Gambling Janes @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £10.00.
Fri 10: Jake Leg Jug Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 10: Steve White Trio @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00. + bf. Soul Drum (Acid Jazz Records) album tour.

Sat 11: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £26.80.

Sun 12: Swing Social @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Admission: Donations (£5.00. - £10.00. suggested). Swing dance taster class, social dancing to Niffi Osiyemi Trio, DJs. Non dancers welcome. A Cluny-Swing Tyne event.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Trio Grand @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30-9:30pm. £10.84.
Sun 12: SH#RP Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 13: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 14: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 14: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Classic Swing’s Christmas Party @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Dec.19

Jim McBriarty  (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards, raffle compere); Alan Rudd (double bass); Ian Stocks (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals).

The room was packed…30 minutes before the band started there was not a seat to be had. The regulars knew that Classic Swing’s Christmas party was not one to miss and they were out in force, Christmas hats and jumpers galore. Friends were hugged, gossip was exchanged and drinks were bought.Then we were off!

As always the first set opened with their signature tune Classic Swing, written especially  for the band by Tommy Moran. The regular Friday crowd are generally too long in the tooth to ‘go wild’  but feet started tapping, hands started clapping and shoulders started moving. We knew we were in for a good afternoon and that the band were there for a fun time too.

Neville Hartley sang Rodgers and Hart's beautiful song Where or When, Olive followed with the first Christmas song of the set Winter Wonderland and then they got together for a voice and trombone piece which they fittingly called Trombone Neville but I think its proper name is Trombone Cholly. Other classics followed with Olive, Jim McBriarty and Neville sharing vocal duties while the front line blew their hearts out and the rhythm section in the engine room made sure there was no slacking.

Then it was interval time and the raffle which saw every ticket holder receive a gift. The table of prizes had to be seen to be believed!  As well as being a keyboard player of some note, Jeremy McMurray made a fine master of ceremonies calling out the winning numbers and should  he ever want a change of career, comedy could well be a possibility.

If the first set showed the prowess of this well established band, the second set had the room alight. Olive started the ball rolling with Rocking Around The Christmas Tree then the band upped the ante with Take the A Train and a rousing version of Strike up The Band sung by Jim McBriarty.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a couple of gentle songs so we had The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting on open fires) and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas which had the whole room silenced. Then it was time for hugs and goodbyes until 2026.

No music next Friday, Boxing Day,  but back on January 2nd to start another year of what it says on the tin ..Classic Swing. Sylvia T
at

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