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

18844 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 708 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 27) 77.

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.

Tue 01:Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free. Summer break - back Oct. 6
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 03: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 03: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Feat. Ian Bosworth (guitar); Ron Hampton (guitar); Riche Emmerson (tenor sax); Dan Johnson (tenor sax, alto sax); Garry Hadfield (keyboards); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: FUNK: new musicians collective @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.00. Line-up inc. Chris Caygill & Daniel Chandler.
Fri 04: The Upside + Lagos to Longbenton @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00. Ska, funk, Afro-fusion & more.

Sat 05: Alligator Gumbo @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 05: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Hartlepool Art Gallery. 4:00-6:15pm. £6.00. Concert performance. Tickets available from the venue - tel: 01429 869706.
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 06: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums) & guest Mick Donnelly (tenor sax).
Sun 06: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Nils Kavanagh Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

The Traveling Janes @ The Spice of Life, London - July 13

Ali Affleck (vocals, washboard); Lauryn Gould (tenor sax, clarinet); Emily Asher (trombone); Katie Cavera (banjo) & guest  Richard Pite (tuba, drums, ukulele)

Another sweltering day in the capital, Cambridge Circus as busy as ever. Best to wait for the 'green man' before attempting to cross Shaftesbury Avenue. The Spice of Life's cool (cooler) basement would offer welcome relief from the oppressive heat. 

Ali Affleck was in town with her Traveling Janes, this lunchtime gig the Janes' final date of their European tour. Scots-born Affleck works with a dizzying array of musician/bands. The Traveling Janes is one such outfit. Comprising of bandleader Affleck (washboard and vocals) and three all-American gals: Lauryn Gould (reeds), Emily Asher (trombone) and Katie Cavera (banjo) and, for this Cambridge Circus engagement only, a token male, Mr. Richard Pite (tuba, drums, ukulele and Spice of Life kingpin). 

Bandleader Affleck introduced the numbers, often sharing a thumbnail sketch of the tune - composer, recorded versions etc. My Walking Stick, When You Wore a Tulip, we'd heard them before, but why not hear them again?  Weeping Woman Blues (Ma Rainey), I Get the Blues When It Rains (no chance today), Emily singing her boyfriend's song Lazy Bones. Ms Asher considers Hoagy Carmichael to be her 'boyfriend'! All good fun, all well played, a typical Janes' gig. 

Second set: Margie, Love Song to a Chambermaid, Shine on Harvest Moon with its vocal harmonies, similarly When You Grow Too Old to Dream, Affleck's Traveling Janes were delivering the goods to the Monday lunchtime regulars. Salty Dog Blues, Rockin' Chair, Sister Kate, give 'em what they want. 

Our Americans - Lauryn, Emily and Katie - know their stuff alright. Seated, relaxed, whatever Ali called, they were up for it. An arrangement of Stephen Foster's Old Folks at Home, Sidney Bechet's Lay Your Racket and then an encore as Ali Affleck explored her Celtic heritage with a somewhat incongruous selection, I'll Tell Me Ma, her American sisters happy to sing along. The Spice of Life will see the Traveling Janes returning in the not too distant future, that's for sure. Russell 
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