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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Friday, May 29, 2026

Press release: NCRO - Annual concert at New Venue

A quick reminder of our annual concert at Gosforth Trinity Church & Centre, High Street, Gosforth NE3 1JZ on Saturday 20 June at 7.30pm.

Once again our special guest on piano is Martin Litton, an internationally renowned musician, arranger and bandleader, specialising in all the classic styles of jazz from ragtime to swing.  Also joining us will be our good friend Nick Ward on vintage percussion, Steve Andrews will present the show, and not forgetting our very own Caroline on vocals!

 

The nearest parking to the venue is over the road behind the Wetherspoons pub, the Job Bulman on St Nicholas Avenue NE3 1AA.  There is also a small car park on Salters Road NE3 1DH opposite the Gosforth Hotel, free after 6pm.  Slightly further away (a 12 minute flat walk) is the multi-storey car park at Regent Centre metro station NE3 3PF, again free after 5pm.

 

The venue has level access and bar facilities.

 

Tickets (£20) can be reserved for collection and payment on the door by contacting bandleader Dave Kerr on 0191 281 4011 or ragtimedavekerr@aol.com  - or buy them on the night (cash only please).

 

Doors open at 7pm, and we hope to see you there!

Phil Rutherford

The New Century Ragtime Orchestra

 

Now in its 26th year, this 12-piece orchestra performs music from the dawn of Ragtime in the 1890s, through the classic jazz and hot dance music of the 1920s, to the early Swing Era of the 1930s.  We have played at many of Britain's best jazz festivals, from Edinburgh and Keswick to Kirkcudbright and Whitley Bay, and have built up a large collection of original jazz orchestrations. 

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