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.

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).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Russ Morgan Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - March 16

© Ken Drew
Russ Morgan (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion  (double bass) + Zoë Gilby (vocals)

Blaydon Jazz Club welcomed the return of Russ Morgan. Now exiled north of the border, drummer Russ made a major impact during his time on Tyneside and it was good to see him once again.* As ever, Russ was joined for the occasion by Harry Keeble (tenor sax), Mark Williams (guitar) and Andy Champion (double bass). 

© Ken Drew
Herbie Hancock's One Finger Snap, Jim Hall's Slam, that's where we were, in the eye of a 'modern jazz' storm. Four musicians, locked in, lots of counting in the head, or so it seemed, as a unit and as soloists, these guys are the business. Julian Nicholas' A Thousand Ships was given another workout and boy, Harry Keeble sure did take it to the cleaners!



© Ken Drew
John  Scofield's Don't Shoot the Messenger (Keeble and Williams' unison lines), Jim Hall's Frisell Frazzle, Pat Metheny's Soul Cowboy (Russ could dep for Bill Stewart in Metheny's trio!) to Carl Fischer's You've Changed with vocals by one Zoë Gilby. Yes, Zoë was in the house! Billie Holiday? No, Zoë Gilby! 

As the evening drew to a close, Russ thanked his band mates - what a band! - and went out on Branford Marsalis' Mr Steepe. Think Mr PC and you'll get an idea of the musical landscape Russ and the boys were exploring. Tremendous.        

© Ken Drew
* Russ Morgan will be on Tyneside again next month to play a lunchtime concert at the Lit & Phil. Friday 17th April is the date, however, the concert sold out quite some time ago. To enquire about returns, telephone the venue's reception desk on 0191 232 0192. Russell   
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