Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED to Sunday 4 October.
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Mon 28: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: Tenderly: The Life & Times of Nat ‘King’ Cole @ Hepscott Parish Hall. 7:30pm. . £15.00., £12.00. (Early Bird advance ticket), £10.00. Off-Broadway production feat. Duane Forrest.
Tue 29: Red Kites Jazz @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Giles Strong Quartet @ The Old Black Cat Jazz Club, Sunderland - Dec. 19

© Ken Drew
Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

On a cold 'Blackeye Friday' evening Sunderland's Cultural Quarter was buzzing with numerous attractions - the Empire, the Fire Station, the Peacock, Vesta Tilley's, the Dun Cow and Sunderland Minster. 

The Old Black Cat Jazz Club made a considerable impact during its short time at 1719 in Hendon. Circumstances beyond the control of the OBCJC necessitated a move away from 'Old Sunderland' and when the opportunity arose to move to a more central location, it was grasped with all four paws. 

© Ken Drew
Sunderland Minster is an impressive venue. Standing in walled grounds, from the street (High Street West) it's all rather discreet. Once inside, a vaulted ceiling, stained glass window and brightly decorated Christmas tree made for a grand setting. This evening the Giles Strong Quartet would entertain the OBCJC congregation. 

Giles Strong could best be described as 'a guitarist's guitarist'. Standards or original compositions, GS is the epitome of restraint and impeccable taste. His bandmates - Pete Tanton, Ian Paterson and John Bradford - share similar qualities. Opening with Days of Wine and Roses confirmed the above. No fewer than ten numbers in the set list were compositions by G. Strong. Each and everyone of them stood comparison with more familiar standards. 

© Ken Drew
Merlin's Merlot (named after a piano-playing member of staff at the now closed Prohibition Bar on Pink Lane in Newcastle), Brother T (the unamplified bass of Ian Paterson in funk mode) and Lullaby for Lissa, all written by Strong, were but three highlights among an evening of  highlights. 

Pete Tanton (trumpet and occasional flugelhorn) made best use of the Minster's acoustics, Ian Paterson playing entirely acoustically was a delight, and in this setting, John Bradford's use of brushes resembled a percussion masterclass. The Giles
Strong Quartet doesn't 'shout', it's not that sort of gig. When you next see a Giles Strong Quartet gig in the listings, drop everything and go. Russell

© Ken Drew
Set list: Days of Wine and Roses; Mubo; Love for Sale; Merlin's Merlot;  A Song for a Friend; Brother T; I'll Remember April; Coco in Paris; Tune 22; Sakura; Lullaby for Lissa; Alone Together, Billy's Blues: On Green Dolphin Street; Miljarder Stjärnor.    
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