Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - May 1

Maureen Hall (vocals); Herbie Hudson (harmonica, vocals); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Alan Law (keyboards); John Robinson (bass guitar); Scotty Adair (drums, vocals)

May Day. Monkseaton. Blue skies. Warm sunshine. A bustling Front Street with its small, independent retailers, cafes, micro pubs (three of 'em), not one, but two chippies, how many out on the street knew that a weekly jazz gig was about to begin on their doorstep? 

International Jazz Day @ the Globe: Duke Junction - April 30

© Sylvia T

Nadim Teimoori (tenor saxophone);  Jeff Hewer (guitar);  Martin Longhawn (Organ);   Steve Hanley (drums) + Richard Hall (guest tenor saxophone on two numbers).

There were several reasons to celebrate at the Globe on  April 30. The first was that it was International Jazz Day. The second reason was that it was the Globe’s 12th birthday as a community run music venue and the third was that Duke Junction were appearing.  Little wonder then that by 7.30pm the house was filling up  and tables and chairs were being brought in to fill any vacant corner.

© Russell

Duke Junction bill themselves as being inspired by, amongst others, Art Pepper, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington (from where they took their name), and although  there was only one Ellington number in the set, it was the beautiful Prelude to a Kiss with a lovely guitar intro by Mr Hewer.  However,  there were a couple by Billy Strayhorn, Ellington’s long time collaborator. The others included tunes by Jack McDuff, Booker Little, and Grant Green who’s Jean de Fleur Mr Hanley took round the block and back again! There was also an intriguing original entitled  Anemonia by Nadim Teimoori which, apparently means nostalgia for things that never existed.

Buxton International Festival 2026 - Jazz

Thanks to some astute programming by the recently appointed Jazz Director for Buxton International Festival, Wesley Stephenson, the jazz content of this year's festival looks particularly appetising.

Tyneside based Wes, a director of Jazz North East and organiser of the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music has put together 19 concerts featuring many top jazz acts both national and international.

Details of the various concerts taking place at the festival - which runs from July 9 - 26 with an emphasis on the 'Jazz Weekender' (July 9 - 12) - can be found HERE. Lance

Single review: Freddie Benedict - Colours (self)

Freddie Benedict (vocal); Chris Bland (piano); Kieran Gunter (guitar); Luke Fowler (bass); Floyer Sydenham (drums)

There’s something about a debut that tells you whether it’s going to be a moment… or just another tune that drifts past. Colours doesn’t drift. It moves. It shifts. It finds its shape as it goes - never settling in one place for too long.

This isn’t a tentative first step. It carries a kind of natural assurance, the sort that comes from understanding how to let a song unfold rather than trying to pin it down. Nothing forced, nothing overplayed. Just a line set in motion, and the confidence to follow where it leads.