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).

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Preview: Strictly Smokin' Big Band featuring Giacomo Smith @ The Glasshouse - Feb. 27

Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, Paul Booth, Matt  Ford, Polly Gibbons, Pete Long, Mike Lovatt, Claire Martin, Mark Nightingale, Dave O'Higgins, Dennis Rollins, Emma Smith, Joe Stilgoe, Anthony Strong and Hailey Tuck are just some of the major names that have appeared in and around Newcastle/Gateshead with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band. 

That illustrious rota of jazz A-Listers isn't closed - hopefully it never will be - and on Feb. 27 at the Glasshouse, SSBB host yet another big hitter in the form of Italian born, New York raised, UK resident, clarinet and sax star Giacomo Smith. 

GS first came to my attention when he was part of a storming gig by Kansas Smitty's House Band back in 2018 at the Glasshouse which was then known as 'The Sage'. Come Covid and among the few highlights of that dark period were the livestreams by KSHB with Giacomo 'Smitty's virtuosity well featured.

More recently, at Ronnie Scott's, he's led his own big band interpreting Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Whether any of those arrangements will be played at the Glasshouse is a matter of conjecture. However, irrespective of the material, big band fans can be assured that they're going to hear a band at the top of its game with one of the UK's top soloists strongly featured and, for good measure, there'll be vocals by Alice Grace. Book now. Lance   
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1 comment :

Russell said...

'Book now' indeed! Levels 1 & 2 are all but sold out and Level 3 is selling well. S/he who hesitates...

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 3:36:00 pm

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