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.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

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.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Press release: BBC Proms in the North East returns in 2026 with its biggest regional programme yet, spanning Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough

BBC Proms in the North East returns from 23-25 July 2026, marking its fifth year in the region and its biggest programme to date.

  • For the first time, the weekend spans three cities, with events across Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, reflecting a growing North East‑wide music region.
  • Royal Northern Sinfonia sits at the heart of the festival, leading bold cross‑genre Proms performances alongside classical, contemporary, indie, folk, jazz and choral music.
  • Programme highlights include North East artists including Northumberland folk pioneers The Unthanks, and South Tyneside-born Nadine Shah, in her BBC Proms debut, alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia, a Sunderland Proms premiere by Mendelssohn, Morton Feldman’s Crippled Symmetry and a large‑scale choral gathering featuring the BBC Singers.
  • Accessible ticketing, emerging artist showcases and national BBC Radio 3 broadcasts continue the Proms’ commitment to reaching new audiences locally and sharing the region’s music‑making nationally. 

  • Thursday 23 July 2026 – Middlesbrough Town Hall 
    The Unthanks and friends, with Royal Northern Sinfonia 
    Time: 19:30 
    Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (recorded for future broadcast) 
    Performers: The Unthanks, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Ellie Slorach (conductor) 

     

    Thursday 23 July 2026 – Sage Two, The Glasshouse 
    BBC Introducing Live at The Proms 
    Time: 20:00 
    Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 / BBC Introducing (recorded) 
    Performers: corto.alto, Maddie Ashman, ATFK 
    Presenter: Shakk (BBC Introducing) 

     

    Thursday 23 July 2026 – myplace, Middlesbrough 
    BBC Young Composer Workshops 
    Time: Various sessions 
    Participants: Young composers aged 12–18 
    Led by: BBC Young Composer artists and mentors 

     

    Friday 24 July 2026 – Sage Two, The Glasshouse 
    Crippled Symmetry 
    Time: 19:00 
    Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (recorded for future broadcast) 
    Works: 
    Morton Feldman Crippled Symmetry 
    Performers: 
    Helena Gourd (flute, bass flute) 
    Jude Carlton (percussion)  
    Dinis Sousa (piano, celesta) 

     

    Friday 24 July 2026 – The Glasshouse Concourse 
    Nadine Shah and Royal Northern Sinfonia 
    Time: 21:00 
    Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (live) 
    Performers: Nadine Shah, Royal Northern Sinfonia 
    Conductor: Ellie Slorach 

     

    Saturday 25 July 2026 – The Glasshouse Concourse 
    Choirs on the Concourse 
    Time: 16:00–19:00 
    Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (recorded for future broadcast) 
     
    16:00-17:00 
    BBC Singers and Jess Gillam

    Charles Wood Hail, gladdening light 
    Hildegard von Bingen Alleluia, O virga mediatrix 
    Christian Forshaw My soul, there is a country 
    Shruthi Rajasekar Sat on the shore 
    Iain Farrington Like as the waves 
    Caroline Shaw and the swallow 
    Roderick Williams Never weather-beaten sail (BBC Commission, world premiere) 
    Alec Roth Night Prayer 
    John Tavener Song for Athene  
    Parry Lord let me know mine end

    17:20 – 17:50pm 
    Voices of the River’s Edge

    18.:10 – 18:55 
    BBC Singers and Chorus of RNS 
    Alfred Schnittke Concerto for Choir (sung in English)

    Performers: 
    Jess Gillam saxophone 
    BBC Singers 
    Sofi Jeannin conductor 
    Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia 
    Tim Burke chorus director 
    Voices of the River’s Edge 
    Simon Davies-Fidler choir director 

     

    Saturday 25 July 2026 – The Fire Station, Sunderland 
    Royal Northern Sinfonia: Mozart and Mendelssohn 
    Time: 19:30 
    Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (live) 
    Works: 
    Grażyna Bacewicz Divertimento 
    Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings in D minor (first performance at the Proms) 
    Mozart Symphony No. 39 in E flat major 
     
    Performers: 
    Royal Northern Sinfonia 
    Christian Ihle Hadland piano 
    Maria Włoszczowska director, violin 

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive