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 01, 2026

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? 


The Monkseaton Arms has been hosting Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz for many a year. Friday, one o'clock, Maureen and the boys, all seated (not unlike Preservation Hall's old timers!), with Herbie Hudson (harmonica and vocals) in for the absent Gavin Lee (clarinet, soprano sax), this afternoon's session would be a Dixieland-plus session. The 'plus' element accommodated several vocals by Adair and Hudson, variously, C'est Magnifique (SA), Marching Through Georgia (HH), The Lady is a Tramp (SA) and My Gal Sal (HH). Maureen, flanked by Herbie Hudson and trombone maestro Gordon Solomon, sang her share, including All of Me and Pennies from Heaven. Maureen and Herbie sang Ice Cream (neither screaming), deservedly winning applause. 

An enjoyable, raffle winning, afternoon. Russell
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