Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Friday, January 30, 2026

Album review: Singapore Symphony Orchestra - Symbiosis A Tribute to Bill Evans

Singapore Symphony Orchestra: Jean Thorel (conductor); Mattieu Arama (concertmaster); Samuel Phua, Michellina Chan (alto sax); Luo  Tianze (alto/tenor sax); Jeffrey Gao (alto/baritone sax)

Thomas Clausen Trio: Thomas Clausen (piano); Thomas Fonnesbæck (bass); Karsten Bagge (drums) + Anders Nalta (trumpet on tks 4 & 7); Evgueni Brokmiller (flute tk 7).

An ambitious and ultimately very satisfying album by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Thomas Clausen Trio who combine to pay tribute to the late, and much loved, Bill Evans.

Opening with Palle Mikkelborg's 1969 Bill Evans Suite which comprises six of Evans' most beautiful compositions: "Interlude" to Waltz For Debby; Time Remembered; My Bells; Interlude (Treasures); Waltz For Debby (reprise) and Walkin' Up trio and orchestra gel enhancing rather than detracting their contributions. It also rubber-stamps my opinion that Waltz For  Debby is the best ever jazz composition in 3/4 time.

For Pi, Clausen's own Evans inspired  composition has a phantasmagorical air of mystery about it. It's beautiful in an enigmatic sort of way.

The album closes with Claus Ogerman's Symbiosis, a reconstructed two part extended symphonic suite that brings to a close an album that is a worthy tribute to Bill Evans viewed, as it is, from many different angles. Enthralling. Lance 

Bill Evans Suite: "Interlude" to Waltz For Debby; Time Remembered; My Bells; Interlude (Treasures); Waltz For  Debby (reprise); Walkin' Up; For Pi; Symbiosis pt one; Symbiosis pt two.
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