Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: The ’58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club, West Park, 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 18: Brand New Heavies @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

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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