Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 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

19,057 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 921 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 29) 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.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest tba
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, October 07, 2026

Dean Masser Quintet @ Llandudno Jazz Club - October 5

© Richard Morris
Dean Masser (tenor saxophone) Neil Yates (trumpet); Richard Harrold (piano); Gavin Barras (double bass); Ric Weedon (drums)

It is a tribute to Neil Yates, curator of Llandudno Jazz Club, that musicians travel from far and wide to play there as this night proved with Dean Masser travelling from Wigan (140 miles), Richard Harrold from Knutsford (134 miles), Gavin Barras from Glossop (182 miles) and Ric Weedon from Manchester (156 miles). Neil, born in Stockport, is now a local so does not have too far to travel.

The musicians are all well known to the club regulars and I often see both Ric and Richard either here or in Liverpool. Gavin, as well as being a long standing member of Matthew Halsall’s band is also part of Dean Stockdale’s Quartet. Dean (Masser) himself is a frequent guest. In two weeks’ time (Oct. 19) the main guest will be one of Dean’s pupils - the 2020 finalist in the BBC’s Young Jazz Musician of the Year - sax player Alex Clarke.

As the set list indicates the concert was full of well-known jazz standards. Opening with What is This Thing Called Love? this was followed by Charlie Parker’s upbeat number Billie’s Bounce. Great solo by Dean on this one. Latin jazz is very popular at Llandudno Jazz Club and we were treated to a gorgeous version of Jobim’s Wave. Again a solo by Neil and complex but masterful interplay between trumpet and sax. The pace slowed with Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady and the first set concluded with the American saxophonist and composer Hank Mobley’s This I Dig of You which featured a sparkling trumpet solo by Neil.

Following a break for pizza and hydration the band resumed with an uptempo swinging tune You Stepped Out of a Dream with, again, great work by the brass section. Next up the slower In a Sentimental Mood with a beautiful piano solo by Richard. Oleo by Sonny Rollins is often heard at this venue and the band's version did not disappoint. Dean blew a staggering, extended solo and the rhythm section were heavily featured. After Stella by Starlight the concert concluded with the swinging tune There is no Greater Love.

Live jazz takes place each Monday from 8.00pm at the dog friendly and award winning, traditional, rustic style pub with a large tropical beer garden - the Penrhyn Arms where the food is as good as the music. 

Modern and  traditional jazz usually  alternate each week. Next Monday, 12 October will therefore be trad. Richard Morris

Set list: What is This Thing Called Love?; Billie’s Bounce; Wave; Sophisticated Lady; This I Dig of You; You Stepped Out of a Dream; In a Sentimental Mood; Oleo; Stella by Starlight; There is no Greater Love

Llandudno Jazz Club, Penrhyn Arms, Pendre Road, Penrhynside,  Llandudno LL30 3BY

Facebook: The Penrhyn Arms

Mondays @ 8pm.£15 cash entry pp for modern jazz and £10 pp for trad jazz, no booking required but recommended if dining. Tel Mark on 07792 834707 to book a table.

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