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

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.

Sun 10: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 12 noon. Free. Note earlier start.
Sun 10: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: The Chet Set @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Colin Muirhead’s “Best Of” List for 2025

Best Gig.

I’ve attended some very good gigs this year, but one really stood out: Gregory Porter at Newcastle City Hall in May.  A big concert by a big personality!  Plus, North East -born Jo Harrop opened the show, as she did throughout Gregory’s spring tour; what a coup for Jo!



Best Addition to the List of North East Jazz Venues.

The Exchange 1856 in North Shields hosted a range of jazz acts during 2025, from the North East and further afield, including the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, Gilad Atzmon and Julian Lage (see photo).  Let’s hope for more top acts there – and elsewhere in the region – during 2026.

Best Jazz Moment

During his excellent performance at the Lit & Phil in October, as part of the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music, saxophonist Xhosa Cole was joined on stage by vocalist Cleveland Watkiss.  Together with Pat Thomas (piano), Ollie Brice (double bass) and Mark Sanders (drums), they gave an amazing rendition of ’Round Midnight – spellbinding!

Best Return to the North East Jazz Scene

I was delighted by the return of the Newcastle Jazz Festival this year, with acts from the local area (including the Noel Dennis Trio - see photo) and beyond.  And I liked its new venue: the Live Theatre.  I’m looking forward already to the 2026 edition.

Best Label

Edition Records.  Actually, this choice is based partly on past and future releases, including Joe Webb’s Mercury prize-nominated Hamstrings and Hurricanes (it was good to see Joe perform at the Fire Station in Sunderland in July as part of the BBC Proms), and the forthcoming album Vital Spark by Dave Holland, Norma Winstone and the London Vocal Project.  Plus, the label released my …

Album of the Year

The Shieling by Fergus McCreadie

I took part in the Bandcamp Listening Party for the album in October and was totally captivated.  The manner in which the album was recorded – in a remote cottage on North Uist – undoubtedly contributed to its intensity and rawness.  I know it’s a high bar, but I believe this may well be Fergus’s best album to date.  I’m looking forward to hearing Fergus, along with saxophonist Matt Carmichael, when they play at the Yamaha Music School in Blyth in March 2026.

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You can hear music related to my choices on the next edition of Jazz on the Tyne – coming soon on Mixcloud! Colin Muirhead

All photos © Colin Muirhead

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