Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

August

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, March 02, 2026

Sunday night @ the Globe: Jack Littlewood Trio + Support _ March 1

© John Lyons
Marcus Dawe (keys, electronics, flute); Ifedi Osiyemi (bass guitar); Jack Littlewood (drums)The Globe was awash with students and the bar was doing good business. On stage Dawe, Osiyemi and Littlewood were known to us post-graduates from gigs with the Bold Big Band, the latter was also in the driving seat on Olly Styles' recent gig at the venue. 

© John Lyons
Opening up with Poinciana it only took a few bars to realise this was no ordinary piano, bass and drums trio but a supercharged, high octane fuelled powerhouse of sound. The decibels were off the scale. It was fff and then some. Nevertheless, as my ears adjusted I liked what they were putting down.

The material was a mix of originals and (sometimes) heavily disguised covers. Littlewood was inspired to write Cap 14 whilst watching the Winter Olympics and Time After Time which featured a bass intro from Osiyemi was drawn from an album by the Ray Brown Trio.

© John Lyons
Glasper's Awakening Dawn had a degree of tranquility about it, Spain was fast and furious and Pig Latin was Ofiyemi's contribution to the set.

Protocol had everything but the kitchen sink. Keyboards by Nord and Kawai, Korg synth, bass booming and kit kicking. We were enveloped in a quagmire of sound and the audience loved it!

© John Lyons
Wheatlands from Oscar Peterson's  Canadiana Suite soothed the savaged breast, a Littlewood original, Iberia, and a tune by Michael Mayo followed then the surprise of the evening. From out of nowhere Dawe produced a flute and played some scintillating choruses on, was it called Sleep In? On Kenny Garrett's Wayne's Thang we had more fine fluting.

© John Lyons
There were other numbers but by now you should have got the gist that, with these three players giving it their best shot, you have one helluva band! 


Lulu (vocals) and Theo (vocals, whistling and keys)

Earlier we had a pleasant support set from a voice/keyboard duo singing a varied selection of covers. It was their debut gig and with the enthusiastic support from their fellow students they can chalk it down as a success. Lance

Nightingale; Something Stupid; Both Sides Now; Dolphin; The Right Time; Red Moon; Harvest Moon.

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