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

18469 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 333 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 27 ) 67

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

April

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only).
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. 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.

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Album review: Joe Steels Group - A Blue Patch

Joe Steels (guitar); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Ben Lawrence (piano, Fender Rhodes); Paul Susans (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

A Blue Patch is Joe Steels' new album. Featuring Cumbria’s Ben Lawrence (piano, Fender Rhodes) and, from Northumberland, Ferg Kilsby (trumpet), Paul Susans (bass) and John Hirst (drums), the album spans all of three quarters of an hour. 

The north of England landscape, straddling either side of the Pennines, is a shared experience for all five musicians: panoramic landscapes, big skies, an ancient folklore heritage. Comprising seven tracks, all composed by Steels, at the heart of the music is a quiet lyricism, fusing Celtic themes and advanced jazz harmony. 

From beginning to end, Steels’ guitar playing is impeccably restrained and incisive in equal measure. Trumpeter Kilsby (tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5) and pianist Lawrence (rising stars both) make telling contributions alongside a wholly sympathetic rhythm section, comprising bassist Susans and drummer Hirst.

Round the Block opens with Steels and Kilsby in unison, concise solos flow, first bandleader Steels, followed by Kilsby, then Lawrence.
  
A Blue Patch, the album's title track, with its light, optimistic tone, contrasts nicely with the post-bop feel on Witching Hour, the latter perhaps referencing an infant's bedtime routine rather than the ghoulish 'round midnight' hour.

Between the Stars stretches out on a broad, night sky canvas. Steels sketches a rhythmic theme, Hirst opting for a watercolour palette of shimmering cymbals, Kilsby to the fore with some wonderful trumpet playing.

Lady Day takes its/her time. Perhaps it's late night, ballad time. A feature for Steels, his bandmates taking their time, pianist Lawrence making considered use of the Fender Rhodes.

The aforementioned Witching Hour flies. Drummer Hirst on the ride cymbal, bassist Susans the driving force. Solos abound, first Steels, then Kilsby firing on all cylinders, Hirst taking it out in fine style.

Borestone maintains the standard, both soloists and ensemble, leading into the closing number, These Are the Days. Fender Rhodes framing Steels' angular, bluesy, solo. This is contemporary guitar playing at its best.               

Track listing: Round the Block; A Blue Patch; Between the Stars; Lady Day; Witching Hour; Borestone; These Are the Days.

A Blue Patch is released today (February 12) in digital and 12" vinyl formats. (joesteelsmusic.bandcamp.com). Recorded at Blank Studios, Newcastle, produced by Dean Parker, recorded by Josh Ingledew. Russell

A Blue Patch tour dates: Feb. 13 Bookends Jazz, Lancaster; Feb. 16 Blaydon Jazz Club; Feb. 18 Matt and Phred's, Manchester; Feb. 19 Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds; Feb. 20 1000 Trades, Birmingham; Feb. 22 Queen's Hall, Hexham; Feb. 23 Yamaha Music School, Blyth; Feb. 27 Gala Theatre, Durham (sold out); Mar. 12 Bebop Club, Bristol; Mar. 20 Old Black Cat Jazz Club, Sunderland Minster.
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