Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 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

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

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.

Tue 27: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest Julija Jacenaite.
Tue 27: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Friday, February 20, 2026

Knats to release A Great Day in Newcastle on Gearbox Records

Stanley Elvis Woodward (writer, arranger, bass guitar, synth bass, words & lyrics); King David Ike-Elechi (drums, percussion, arranger); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugelhorn, co-writer, arranger); Cooper Robson (poetry reading); George Johnson (tenor sax); Sandro Shar (keys); Geordie Greep (producer) + assorted horns and strings)


This is way beyond my perception of jazz but, that is no criticism of Knats, it's more a criticism of my own inability to move with the times - I still play original vinyl, have a petrol driven car and watch black and white movies. I even read books! 

Knats has been given coverage in influential magazines such as DownBeat, Jazzwise, Jazz Journal and the Guardian among others which isn't bestowed upon just any group so whatever they're doing they're doing it right.

They're proud of their north east roots as the track titles prove and their labelling of the product as Geordie Jazz is further indication of their allegiance to 'Toon and Stottie'. 

WOR JACKIE - check it out. Digital release is on March 6, vinyl/CD March 29.
Lance

7 Bridges to Burn; Gainsborough Grove; Wor Jackie; Messy-In; Azure Blues; Bigg Market Scrappa; Carpet Doctor; Never Gonna be a Boxer; Farewell Johnny Miner 

Tour Dates

April 22nd - The Hope & Ruin, Brighton 
April 23rd - Voodoo Daddy's, Norwich 
April 24th - Where Else?, Margate 
April 25th - Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London 
April 27th - Quarry, Liverpool 
April 28th - Band On The Wall, Manchester 
April 29th - Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds 
April 30th - Hare & Hound, Birmingham 
May 1st - The Glad Cafe, Glasgow 
May 2nd - Cobalt, Newcastle 

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