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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: 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 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Three performances: Grey St. 11:30am; Northumberland St. 2:30pm; Great North Museum 4:45pm.
Sat 08: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ FIKA Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £20.00.; £40.00. to inc. glass of fizz & food options.

Sun 09: Sticky Lips @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Various city centre locations/times.
Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Sunday night @ the Globe: the Magpies of Swing - June 21

© Sylvia
Neil Hopper (valve trombone, drums); Elise Hopper (vocals, drums); Lachlan Fotheringham (soprano sax, clarinet); Paul ?, Rachel Richman (alto sax); Fiona Finden (tenor sax, vocals); Stu Finden (baritone sax); ?, Polly Corbishley   (trumpets); Nigel Robson, David Gray (trombone); Alan Law (piano); Alex J. Gamble (guitar, vocals); Owen Jones, ? (bass); Kate Stebbing, Liv Worrell (vocals - pictured above)

When I first got into jazz it was like stepping through the looking glass into a wonderland of new (to me) sounds. It was fun, the music provided danceable rhythms, couples caressed and caroused. Come the morrow I'd have to explain the absence of my homework, but for now ...

Last night at the Globe was a bit like that - how could it not be with the Magpies of Swing or their parent group the House of the Black Gardenia?

© Sylvia
The room was crowded, many of them swing dancers strutting their stuff unknowingly paying tribute to Count Basie in Kansas City, Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club or King Oliver in Storyville. The important thing was they'd discovered the affinity that music and dance have with each other.

Among the soloists Stu Finden on baritone stood out closely followed by Lachlan Fotheringham on soprano and clarinet, trombones Robson and guest slider Gray blew with great gusto whilst Law, Jones and Gamble were solid in support. However, singling out individuals is unfair as each played a vital part. I didn't catch the name of the second alto, Paul? but he too seized the moment when it arose.

As always there was an abundance of singers from both in and out of the ranks: Kate Stebbing (Sunday; Dinah; I'm Beginning to See the Light).
Liv Worrell (All the Cats Join in; It's Only a Paper Moon; In a Mellow Tone; Sugar).
Alex J. Gamble (Russian Lullaby; Hole in the Ground).
Elise Hopper (Just Because You Can; Blue Drag; Lullaby of Birdland).
Fiona Finden (Lester Leaps in).

Instrumentals: Jive at Five; Petite Fleur (Lachlan); Perdido; C Jam Blues.

A hectic, yet relaxed evening - at least it was for us non-steppers! Lance

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