Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Monday, July 20, 2026

Joe Webb's 7-A-Side @ De Beauvoir Jazz Festival, London - July 11

Joe Webb (piano); Pete Horsfall (trumpet); Alec Harper (tenor sax); Donovan Haffner (alto sax); Joe Evans (trombone); Will Sach (double bass); Sam Jesson (drums) + Jack Murray (alto sax)

Joe Webb is a football fan, big time. It isn't unknown for our superstar pianist to make a trip to the Nou Camp to watch a match, as one does. In the days leading up to this evening's De Beauvoir Jazz Festival concert, Webb was in something of a quandary. How could he take to the stage at 9:00pm, play through to eleven and watch England's World Cup Quarter Final against Norway, scheduled to kick-off at ten o'clock?

Rather than play two sets, as advertised, Webb would play one set, finishing at ten on the dot, then run around the corner to watch the match in the pub. It seemed like a plan..

Joe Webb's 7-A-Side is an occasional happening, principally because it's a rare occasion when all seven  musicians can be found together in the same room. They're busy boys. The line-up, comprising Webb's regular trio - Will Sach, double bass, Sam Jesson, drums - and the four horns of Pete Horsfall (behind the scenes heavily involved with the festival) trumpet, Alec Harper (another Kansas Smitty's man) tenor sax, 2025 APPJG winner Donovan Haffner, alto sax, and Joe Evans, trombone, would hit the ground running with bandleader Webb's False 9 Rag. 

Alluding to the 'false 9' position (a discussion for another day, post-match, in the pub), the twenty first century Webb can certainly write a rag, false or not. Listening to Webb's trio is one thing (it's a treat), hearing the added horns play Webb's charts was a revelation. What next - the Joe Webb Big Band? 

Fight Night, David and Goliath (written for Webb's brother) with its Ellingtonian ballad quality, the trio playing, quite brilliantly, James P, the one hour set was flying by all too quickly. The seven was occasionally augmented by alto saxophonist Jack Murray (the boy can play!), Pete Horsfall featured on Corrèze, and to close, with its bebop head, Sports Day. Marvellous.

Some people thought it was all over. They were right, Webb and co were off to the pub. Come on England!  Russell
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