Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18602 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 466 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 8) 17

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

June

Tue 09: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
Tue 09: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 09: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:10pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 10: John Garner & John Pope @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 11: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 11: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: MNO of the GASbook.
Thu 11: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:45pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
Thu 11: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 11: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 11: 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 11: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 11: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free

Fri 12: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 12: Pete Tanton & Alan Law @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Tanton (trumpet, vocals); Law (piano).
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Cleveland Bay Hotel, Eaglescliffe. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 13: Ladies of Midnight Blue + Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington NE63 9YF. Free. From 10:00am. Ladies of Midnight Blue (3:00-3:45pm); Northern Monkey Brass Band (4:00-4:45pm).
Sat 13: Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 13: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Saltburn Bandstand. 2:30-4:30pm. Free.
Sat 13: Courtney Pine @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £35.80. Pine (saxophones); Robert Mitchell (piano); Rio Kai (double bass); Romarna Campbell (drums). ‘A Modern-Day Jazz Story 1986 - 2026’.

Sun 14: Front Porch Band: Swing Tyne’s Swing Social @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations (£5.00. - £10.00. suggested). Swing dance event w. taster class (12:30pm).
Sun 14: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Doctor Jazz @ The Old Church, Sacriston, Durham. 3:00-5:00pm . Free (donations welcome). New Orleans, blues & classic 20th century songs. Food & soft drinks available, BYOB.
Sun 14: Eddie Gripper Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.

Mon 15: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 15: Dan Johnson w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Monday, December 01, 2025

Preview: December - it's one big Xmas prezzie!

As the 'Big Day' approaches you could be forgiven for thinking the north east jazz scene will slow down. Not a bit of it, December is as busy as ever! Here's a selection...Tuesday (Dec. 2) brings James Birkett & Emma Fisk to the Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. It's a 1:15pm start and, at free admission, it's a bargain!  In the evening there's seasonal joy with the mega sized Down For the Count Swing Orchestra at Newcastlle Cathedral

Thursday (Dec. 4) is the day Prohibition Bar in Middlesbrough hits the jazz trail. Trumpeter Noel Dennis is the first of hopefully many top class jazz musicians to appear at the Albert Road venue. At the same time, North Shields' Exchange 1856 presents Organology. As line-ups go, you'd be hard pressed to come up with something to better this - Gilad Atzmon (alto sax), Ross Stanley (organ) and drummer Joel Barford! Book now at: www.theexchange1856.com.

On Saturday (Dec. 6) Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club once again welcomes Sarah Spencer's Transatlantic Band. Hugely popular last time round, it all points to another full house at St Augustine's Parish Centre. It's a half past twelve start, a tenner at the door. Saturday evening brings a rather poignant occasion. The Seahorse (Whitley Bay FC's club house) is hosting the first performance by the Kaberry Big Band. The band, formerly known as the Vermont Big Band, is named (renamed) in honour of its MD, the late Chris Kaberry. 

Wednesday (Dec. 10), make a pilgrimage to Pilgrim (that's the venue on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, formerly Hoochie Coochie). Level 42's pianist Mike Lindup will be there with his jazz trio. Definitely worth a punt. Meanwhule, over at the Cluny down on the Ouseburn Delta, the exhuberant Bold Big Band will be unleashing their own brand of Ho! Ho! Ho!

Paul Edis returns once again with his all-star band, appearing at no fewer than four venues (five shows) over six days. A Jazzy Christmas is the real deal. A winning set list, superb arrangements, fabulous musicians, terrible jokes (!), Santa hats encouraged. Book to see Paul and co at one or more of these venues: St Cuthbert's Centre, Crook (Dec. 12), Glasshouse, Gateshead (Dec. 13, two performances), Queen's Hall, Hexham (Dec. 16) and the Fire Station, Sunderland (Dec. 17).   

And if you're looking for a big band bash, look no further than the o2 Academy (formerly Newcastle City Hall). On Sunday (Dec. 21) Michael Lamb's Strictly Smokin' Big Band will be on stage for one of the year's unmissable gigs. Alice Grace (pictured) will be there, of course she will. And, by way of a bonus, Alice will be joined by fellow vocalist, Matt Ford! And there's more...Bradley Creswick (one time leader of the Northern Sinfonia) will be in the thick of the strings and, last but by no means least, the man who has been burning the arranger's midnight oil, Stuart McLean. Tickets have been selling like hot cakes. To buy your tickets - that's 'tickets' plural, think Christmas present(s) - visit: www.academymusicgroup.com/o2cityhallnewcastle. 

Keep an eye on BSH's day-to-day listings - there's so much happening. Russell      
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