Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,066 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 930 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 31) 109.

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

November

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: An Evening of Erykah Badu @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Cut Capers @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).
Thu 05: Northern Reaches @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Pete Tanton, Joe Steels, Laurence Blackadder, John Hirst.
Thu 05: Fergus McCreadie @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 06: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 1/3.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Jazz Night: Bridget Metcalfe @ Saltburn House Hotel. From 6:00pm. Tickets: £40.00 (inc. a two-course meal & glass of Prosecco). Tel: 01287 658977.
Fri 06: The Exu + Kraabel/Harrison/Birchall @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Sat 07: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 2/3.
Sat 07: Ewan Bleach’s Cable Street Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington.
12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Superb band.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Find Your Pocket: Funk & Groove. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café, St James’ Retail Park, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 07: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 6:00pm.

Sun 08: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 3/3.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 08: Kaberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 3:00pm. £7.00 (inc. tea & cake). Charity event for the Poppy Appeal.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.; £5.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This afternoon’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet) & Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!
Mon 09: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This evening’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet), from London, Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!

Tue 10: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Becky Tuck (vocals).
Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, September 03, 2026

Into September...

Looking at September's gigs, it's a varied month with something to suit most tastes. This coming weekend Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club once again welcomes Alligator Gumbo. The Yorkshire outfit is popular down on Larchfield Street. The best advice is to arrive early on Saturday (Sept. 6) for a half past twelve start. Sunday evening sees the regional debut of the Nils Kavanagh Trio at Newcastle Jazz Co-op HQ. Pianist Kavanagh will take to the stage with Ursula Harrison (bass) and Sam Green (drums).

Wednesday's Jazz North East promotion at Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle (that's Sept. 9) features NONUNONU. Yes, that's right, NONUNONU. Featuring guitarist Tim 'Bim' Williams, the trio's previous appearances at the Chillingham Road micro pub/bottle shop were rather good! Thursday (Sept. 10) across the Tyne at Gateshead's imposing Glasshouse, there is another opportunity to hear the high profile saxophonist Emma Rawicz, on this occasion with her all-star band. 

Friday lunchtime (Sept. 11), Bishop Auckland Jazz presents established vocalist Esther Bennett. This is a rare opportunity to catch Bennett in concert. Make your way to Bishop Auckland Methodist Church on Cockton Hill Road for a 1:00pm start, a tenner at the door. 

The Cluny (Sunday 13) sees Alligator Gumbo returning to the region for a late afternoon concert at five o'clock. Up the road on Railway Street (Newcastle Jazz Co-op HQ) at 8:00pm, Jazz North East presents a double bill featuring Eternal Triangle and Andy Champion. 

Thursday 17th, it's the toss of a coin. Miles 100 is Tom Atkinson's tip-of-the-hat to the man, Miles Davis. If you're familiar with the Jack Johnson album from electric-era Miles, you won't want to miss this one. However...at Pilgrim there is a first appearance on Tyneside by Romania's Amphitrio. Heads or tails? 

Danny Lowndes' Hot Club, Friday lunchtime (Sept. 18) at Newcastle's Lit & Phil is SOLD OUT. To enquire about returns, call 0191 232 0192. On Friday evening, there is the choice between contemporary jazz guitar at Sunderland Minster with the mercurial Mark Williams Trio or classic Hot Club swing at St Cuthbert's Centre, Crook featuring Hot Club du Nord. 

The Michael Young Trio returns to Sunderland's Engine Room on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 20). It's a two thirty start, free admission.

Monday 21st and Wednesday 23rd, ink them in the diary as the Lewis Watson Quartet salutes John Coltrane! First up, Monday at Blaydon Jazz Club at the recently refurbished Black Bull (8:00pm), followed by Newcastle's Lit & Phil (7:30pm). The latter just happens to be the exact centenary of the birth of Trane (born. 23. 9. 1925). It's been SOLD OUT for a couple of months or so.

Arun Ghosh is always a draw and on Thursday evening (Sept. 24) Gosforth Civic Theatre is likely to be busy. Friday lunchtime, Durham's Gala Theatre presents the Mark Williams Trio, at six o'clock on Saturday (Sept. 26), Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter explore the music of Mary Lou Williams at Byker's Cumberland Arms, Sunday afternoon (Sept. 27) Queen's Hall, Hexham it's the Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet. Finally, on Sunday evening, the Alex Hitchcock Quartet at Newcastle's Globe is one of many Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music Festival concerts across several venues 
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