Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

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

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Preview: Mama Terra @ Pilgrim - Jan. 28


Marco Cafolla (piano, vocoder); Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor sax); Rachel Lightbody (vocals); Doug Hough (drums); Brodie Javier (double bass) + Mikey Owers (trombone); Cameron Jay (flugelhorn, trumpet)

Glasgow based band Mama Terra, heard above at jazzahead! 2024, are to play in Newcastle at Pilgrim (formerly Hoochie Coochie) on Wednesday January 28 which, going by the video, is going to be an incredible evening.

Wiszniewski I've heard many times over the years with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and I also recall hearing Cafolla with American saxman Pee Wee Ellis and The Federation of the Disco Pimp. I was impressed back then and already I'm chomping at the bit to see them again in this totally different, but no less exciting, line-up. Lance


Comments and Achievements:

Featured as one of the Top 25 Artists to watch in 2025 on BBC Scotland's Vic Galloway show.

Nominated for 'Breakthrough Act 2025' at the Jazz FM Awards (announced April '25)


Debut album The Summoned released July 2023 to great acclaim was longlisted for the SAY award 2024.


Released on Acid Jazz Records. Debut single Ruptura, from debut album The Summoned, went straight in at number one on the ITunes jazz chart, for six 

consecutive weeks and single, A Mind Supreme, was track of the week on Jazz FM.


'Mama Terra' launched their new album at the world famous Ronnie Scott's in London to a sold out room & received a standing ovation, as well as recording live for JAZZ FM's classic album series, playing Herbie Hancock's 'Headhunters' album arranged for them in the Mama Terra sound. 2024 has brought sold out shows and big festival appearances at SXSW (Austin, TX), Jazzahead (Germany) amongst others.


From Glaswegian Pianist, Composer & Producer Marco Cafolla & Saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski, Mama Terra are hotly tipped by JazzFM, and are signed to legendary London label Acid Jazz Records.   ‘The Summoned’ is a conceptual journey through life and the universe – a new and  invigorated take on spiritual jazz and is focused on melody, Pocket and Sound.


Bursts with zeal and vigour★★★★ MOJO


Encompasses frenetic be-bop, slick soul [and] a hybrid of Steely Dan and trip-hop. Uncut magazine 


Draws breezily on the cosmic jazz heritage of Alice Coltrane & how that’s fed into US soul. The Arts Desk 


If you are a fan of Coltrane’s Giant Steps, this will be right up your street Detail magazine.


(The Summoned) offers both a sonic and a philosophical spiritual journey through the consciousness of human life and cosmic phenomena. A conceptual and ambitious contemporary jazz workEuropean Jazz Network.


To Myself the most important jazz act to come from the UK in last 12 Months & the track A Mind Supreme is a genuine modern classic – Christian Bragg, Head of Music, Jazz FM

1 comment :

Russell said...

Michael 'Mikey' Owers and Cameron Jay were often seen - and heard -alongside Konrad Wiszniewski in the SNJO.

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