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

19,000 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 864 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 14) 43.

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.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 4:45pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 15: Leah Kirk: A Strange Affair @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Leah Kirk (vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 15: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. PJO w. guest Graham Hardy (trumpet).

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Ancient Infinity Orchestra @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 16: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01. adv.; £15.00. on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick. 8:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: SunOrbitUs @ Culture House, Sunderland. 11:00am - 5:00pm. Closing event in a year-long piece of music. 11:00am-1:00pm Improvisation workshop w. Faye MacCalman; 2:00-5:00pm Collective Improvised Performance by Sunderland residents. SOLD OUT!
Sat 17: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 17: Martin Taylor @ Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £48.72; £43.37. Solo guitar. SOLD OUT!

Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Jump jive.
Sun 18: Guisborough Big Band @ Redcar Rugby Club. 5:00-8:00pm. ‘Charity Big Band Birthday Bash’ in aid of Parkinson’s UK & Young Sounds UK. Free (donations on the door).
Sun 18: Martin Taylor @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £23.30. Solo guitar.
Sun 18: Ben Crosland Quartet with Steve Waterman @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 19: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 20: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Tue 20: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Head, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Tickets from Tully’s, Rothbury. Coquetdale Jazz. Note change of venue.
Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Scotty Adair.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous8 A Live Musical Tribute to Peggy Lee (Outrageous8 Records)

Angela O’Neill (leader. vocals); Al Timss (vocals); Sam Morgan (M.D., tenor sax); Dennis Mitcheltree  (alto sax); Richard Walker (baritone sax, flute); Paul Litteral (trumpet, flugelhorn); Harry Smallenburg (trombone, arranger); Rocky Davis (piano, arranger); Bill Bodine (bass guitar); Tony Pia (drums)

Outrageous A Train: An instrumental to kick off the gig at LA's Velvet Martini Lounge at Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City*. Solos by tenor, alto, trombone, bass. piano, drums and trumpet No need to tell you about this tune!

I'm a Woman: The material may be Peggy's but that's where the story ends and, in Angela's case begins.

Hallelujah, I Just Love Him So: The voice may be less silky than Peg's, its earthier, but she has the same power to connect with the drinkers and the diners.

I'm Beginning to See the Light: Great tune, great singer and super swingin' band.

I'm Gonna go Fishin': Peggy composed the lyric to Duke's tune from the movie soundtrack of Anatomy of a Murder. 

Mean to me: Al Timss takes over the mic for this good old good one.

All Right. Ok. You Win: Angela's back for this one. A rolling, shuffling beat with a Basie feel to it.

Fly me to the Moon: Tenor and trombone provide belt and braces to the vocal. One of those tunes that tends to have been overcooked by too many hopefuls. Neither Peggy nor Angela were/are in that category.

Why Doncha do Right?: Peggy's first big hit although I think bandleader Benny Goodman copped for the royalties. That won't happen here!

I Love Being Here With You: Al and Angela duet on this one, they hit it in perfect harmony

Fever: The closest to Peggy we get. I'd even go so far as to say the arrangement aces it for the visiting team.

Whilst I'm not going to replace my originals, this will sit comfortably alongside them without gathering dust. Lance* 

*(From the Velvet Martini Lounge's website. Sounds like my kinda place!) Step back in time and experience the glamour of old Hollywood with our new Rat Pack-inspired cocktail lounge, featuring live music, delicious food, and classic cocktails...with a twist. Immerse yourself in the ambiance of a bygone era. Whether you're looking for a romantic escape or a fun night on the town with friends, The Velvet Martini Lounge is the perfect destination.


Dress to impress and join us for an unforgettable experience. 

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