Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Neil Yates Quintet @ Llandudno Jazz Club - Febr. 23

Dean Masser (tenor sax);  Neil Yates (trumpet};  Ric Weedon (drums);  Rich Harrold (keyboards); Joshua Cavanagh Brierley (double bass)

This concert saw the return to Llandudno of Dean Masser one of the UK’s top saxophone players and tutor to many of the younger generation of sax players such as Alex Clarke. Dean and Neil Yates have played together over several decades and their interplay on several tunes  was particularly rewarding to the audience

All the musicians are well known in Llandudno and further afield. From the Duke Ellington ballad In a Sentimental Mood to the upbeat Triste by one of the fathers of bossa nova Antonio Carlos Jobim the band showed they were comfortable with a wide range of tempos. I had seen Rick Weedon play in Liverpool the previous week in the Latin jazz group Katonga. Joshua is a regular at Llandudno and plays multiple times a week primarily in the north west. Rich is an in demand piano player and teacher based in Knutsford and I have seen him play numerous times in Liverpool and Llandudno.

All musicians welcomed regular solos and the two hour concert, broken into two sets, was thoroughly enjoyed by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience.

I try to visit this venue at least fortnightly. Jazz occurs each Monday with modern jazz alternating with trad jazz. Next Monday, March 2 the band comprises Neil Yates on trumpet. Liam Byrne on saxes, Andrew Mackenzie on trombone and Andrzej Baranek on piano.

It is a delight that frequently well known musicians attend this jazz club as audience members. At this concert present was Steve Summers a sax and clarinet player of the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band who was looking forward to the concert by this Big Band featuring the world class sax and clarinet player Giacomo Smith at The Glasshouse in Gateshead on Feb. 27 – tickets available I believe. Also present was my good friend Roger Purcell composer for the clarinet and composer of educational music books. Roger is a relative of Henry Purcell.  

Set list You Stepped out of a Dream; Hush-A-Bye; Triste; I’ll Remember April; Cheese Cake; In a Sentimental Mood; Almost Like Being in Love; Sonnymoon for Two; Cherokee

Llandudno Jazz Club, Penrhyn Arms, Pendre Road, Penrhynside, Llandudno LL30 3BY

Mondays @ 8pm. £10 cash entry pp, no booking required but recommended if dining.

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