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

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. SOLD OUT!
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
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.

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: 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 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

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.

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 Highway; Just You, Just Me; I Didn't Know About You; Winin' Boy Blues; A Lot of Livin' to Do; Cake Walking Babies; Teach Me Tonight; Mighty Like the Blues; Jump for Joy. 
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