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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED to Sunday 4 October.
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Mon 28: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: Tenderly: The Life & Times of Nat ‘King’ Cole @ Hepscott Parish Hall. 7:30pm. . £15.00., £12.00. (Early Bird advance ticket), £10.00. Off-Broadway production feat. Duane Forrest.
Tue 29: Red Kites Jazz @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Lewis Watson Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Sept. 21

© Roly Veitch
Lewis Watson (tenor/soprano saxophones); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

In the week of John Coltrane's centenary (b. 23. 9. 1926), Lewis Watson made a welcome return to Blaydon Jazz Club to play 'Trane'. The Black Bull's recent refurbishments impressed and as Lewis (tenor and soprano saxophones) took to the stage with his A-list band - Mark Williams (guitar), Andy Champion (bass), John Bradford (drums) - it was odds on everyone in the room would be more than impressed with what they would be hearing. 

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes for starters, Lewis stating the theme, guitarist Mark Williams straight in with the first of several fluent solo contributions. Equinox featured more from Mark and an ace solo from bassist Andy Champion. 

Syeeda's Song Flute from Giant Steps, Mark and Andy doing it again - impressive, that's for sure. To close out a marvellous first set, Lewis picked up his soprano, joking he would have to see if he could get a tune out of it. He could, of course he could, playing Central Park West. 

I Hear a Rhapsody, back in the day a pop song, later featured on a film soundtrack, resumed affairs. If Trane could play it, Lewis could play it, then some. Trane's nod to Sonny Rollins, Like Sonny, found us firmly in the Land of the Tenor Giants. Dazzling stuff. To conclude a magical evening, Lewis and co went out on Naima (fabulous), followed by Dexter Gordon's arrangement of Moment's Notice, with all four musicians firing on all cylinders, not least John Bradford who was all over his kit, quite masterful. 

The Lewis Watson Quartet will be back in action on Wednesday evening, the exact centenary of the birth of John Coltrane. The Lit & Phil is the venue, tickets sold out weeks ago, if you didn't manage to get a ticket, you could beg, steal or borrow... Russell
       
Set list: The Night Has a Thousand Eyes; Equinox; Syeeda's Song Flute; Central Park West; I Hear a Rhapsody; Like Sonny; Naima; Moment's Notice.    
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