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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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.

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Alex Clarke with the Paul Edis Trio @ The Wheatsheaf, Tooting, London - Sept. 8

Alex Clarke (alto sax); Paul Edis (piano); Simon Read (double bass); Steve Brown (drums)

A first visit to Paul Edis' monthly jazz night in Tooting. The Wheatsheaf, situated across the road from Tooting Bec underground station, is a big barn of a place with an upstairs function room. The pub's management is happy for pianist Edis to get on with it, in some ways, the ideal arrangement. 

Online advance tickets or pay at the door, Tooting Jazz presents many of the very best working on the London jazz scene. This evening's guest was the exceedingly busy Alex Clarke. Edis' trio, comprising bassist Simon Read and drummer Steve Brown (themselves two of the best around), would provide impeccable support to Ms. Clarke.

Sheet music, iPads, mobile phones etc wouldn't be required this evening. GASbook or 'modern jazz' standards, the set list was familiar to all four musicians on the stand. From the opening Invitation it was evident this was going to be an evening of top quality jazz - quelle surprise!

The Wheatsheaf's audience comprised regular Tooting Jazz supporters and a smattering of new faces. Alex Clarke finds her way around her instrument with, seemingly, casual ease. Ditto Messrs Edis, Read and Brown, masters of their chosen instrument. The audience knew it and applauded in all the right places, in short, the component parts of a successful evening. 

Ballad or uptempo swinger, Alex Clarke and the Paul Edis Trio were a delight to listen to. If you're in town, Tooting Jazz is well worth a visit. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com. October's concert (Tuesday 13th) features Pocket Horns - Ted Smith (trumpet), Harry Brunt (tenor sax) and Will Arnold-Forster (guitar) - with vocalist Annie Majin. And if you want more, the following week (Wednesday 21st) head on down to Mitcham Road. The Antelope pub, two minutes' walk from Tooting Broadway underground station, will be hosting the first of, hopefully many, jazz nights. And it's an all star affair featuring Tony Kofi with the Paul Edis Trio! Russell

Set list: Invitation; I've Never Been in Love Before; I'll Remember April; You Don't Know What Love Is; The Way You Like Tonight; In Your Own Sweet Way; The Song is You; Skylark; Just One of Those Things.   

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