Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

July

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 23: Side Café Orkestar @ New castle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Balkan, Hot Club, Klezmer.
Thu 23: 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 24: Lindsay Hannon Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: Liam & Shayo @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

De Beauvoir Town Jazz Festival: Closing Party @ The Scolt Head, London - July 12

Jack Jules (alto sax); Guilia Marro (clarinet, vocals): Tom Ward (piano); Ben Love (double bass); Luke McCarthy (drums) + Pete Horsfall (trumpet)

The Scolt Head was showing the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final (Sinner v. Zverev)*. Those with little or no interest in the SW 19 sporting climax sat in the pub's beer garden, crammed full under a relentless sun. Fresh from a guest appearance with Joe Webb's 7-A-Side, Jack Jules (aka Jack Murray) joined forces with Guilia Marro (clarinet and vocals) in a De Beauvoir Town Jazz Festival closing party blowout. 

Working with an ace rhythm section, comprising pianist Tom Ward, bassist Ben Love and drummer Luke McCarthy, Jack and Guilia - and no doubt the others - came up with a great selection of numbers, some seldom played, some almost never played, particularly on a gig like this. A mix of Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, showtunes etc., the full house sitting on chairs, sitting on the floor and standing with pints in hand, roared its appreciation. 

Jack went for the bebop jugular, a mean 'Johnny Hodges' was in his bag, too. Guilia impressed, big time. Great clarinet and, for one so young, such assured vocals. If pianist Joe Webb is Numero Uno, Tom Ward is coming up fast on the blind side** - superb piano playing. Bass and drums - bassist Ben a recent visitor (with trumpeter James Borland) to Queen's Hall, Hexham and drummer Luke, a swinging rhythm section, if ever there was one. 

Ellington's Dual Highway, Ellington's I Didn't Know About You, Jack Jules as J. Hodges. Excellent. A Lot of Livin' to Do, Guilia singing with a joie de vivre. The quintet, joined by Pete Horsfall, added a certain frisson, Pete singing a joyful Jump for Joy

The second De Beauvoir Jazz Festival could be described as 'successful'. To do so would be to sell it short. Try 'resounding success'. Yes, that's more like it.              

* Sinner won in four. 

 ** Joe Webb would appreciate the sporting reference. Russell 

Set list included: Dual HighwayJust You, Just MeI Didn't Know About YouWinin' Boy BluesA Lot of Livin' to DoCake Walking BabiesTeach Me TonightMighty Like the BluesJump for Joy

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