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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ni Maxine + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sun 26: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 26: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00., £7.00.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer.
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

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.

Tuesday, February 03, 2026

February goodies

As the days slowly but surely begin to lengthen, there is a long list of gigs well worth going to during February. Here's a relatively short list. On Friday 6th, Encounters in Concert is a coming together of two big bands at Saltburn Theatre. Durham Alumni Big Band and Saltburn Big Band will share the stage on Albion Terrace, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, it's a seven thirty start, it promises to be a memorable occasion.

Tees Bay Swing Band meets at Hartlepool's Blacksmith's Arms on Saturday (Feb 7th, 1:30pm). It's an open rehearsal and you're invited to pop along, sit with a drink and listen to the band as it's put through its paces and it's free admission! Up the road in Newcastle on Sunday evening (Feb. 8th) one of the great bands makes a swift return to Jazz Co-op HQ. In October last year Gerry Richardson's Big Idea sold out the Railway Street venue and the nine-piece band is on course to do the same thing this weekend. The Globe is a thriving, independent music venue, to show your support, book in advance at: www.theglobenewcastle.bar. Do it now or miss out! 

Friday 13th...unlucky for some! You'll be in luck if you go to either of the following gigs. Trumpeter Noel Dennis will be in concert with his ace quartet at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. It's a lunchtime session (1:00pm), £9.00 at the door. Friday evening (7:00pm), Sunderland's Ship Isis plays host to a first rate guitar duo. Tom Remon (a welcome, frequent visitor to the BSH region) will join forces with John Moriarty (guitarist and luthier from Dublin). The venue, CAMRA's local Pub of the Year in 2025, is on Silksworth Row, a short walk from Sunderland Empire. Admission: £11.00. (inc. booking fee). Book online at: www.musiccity.uk.           

On Monday 16th all roads lead to Blaydon. Guitarist Joe Steels is touring his album A Blue Patch with several dates right here in the region. Blaydon Jazz Club is delighted to welcome Joe's top class quartet (including pianist Ben Lawrence) to the Black Bull. It's an eight o'clock start, a tenner at the door.

Friday 20th will be a busy day for the brilliant Alex Clarke. At one o'clock, alto saxophonist Alex will play to a sold out audience at Newcastle's Lit & Phil (to enquire about returns, call 0191 232 0192). In the evening, Alex with the Dean Stockdale Trio will do it all again at Sunderland Minster. It's a 7:30pm start, £12.96 in advance or £15.00 on door. Book online at: www.muscicity.uk.  

Joe Steels follows up his appearance at Blaydon Jazz Club with two further regional dates. Sunday 22nd, the Joe Steels Group will be at Queen's Hall, Hexham (3:00pm) and on Friday 27th at Durham's Gala Theatre (1:00pm). It's likely both concerts will attract a capacity audience. Don't delay, book today! Book at: www.queenshall.co.uk and www.galadurham.co.uk. 

And finally...Friday evening (Feb. 27th) you'll need to be in two places at once! If you're yet to perfect the art, it's a choice between Alan Barnes at Opus 4 Jazz Club (Traveller's Rest), Darlington (8:00pm). £15.00 at the door, or Giacomo Smith with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band at Gateshead's Glasshouse. It's a tough call. If you choose the latter gig, please note, it's looking like clarinet and alto sax maestro Giacomo will be playing to a full house. As ever, don't delay, book now at: www.theglasshouseicm.org. Russell 
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