Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

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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