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

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

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.

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Durham Jazz Festival: Zöe Gilby and Andy Champion @ Banner room, Redhills Miners' Hall, Durham - October 25

© Richard Morris
Zöe Gilby (vocals); Andy Champion (double bass)

And now for something completely different! A duet concert by virtuoso double bass player Andy Champion and award winning vocalist Zöe Gilby. Pared back songs of various genres with some of these songs written by some of my very favourite artists. I was hooked. Therefore not all jazz songs but many given a jazzy feel, some scatting and Zöe’s unique and very fine vocals - a real treat and, unsurprisingly, was yet another a sell out in an intimate venue.

A jazzy start with the Gershwin’s Our Love is Here to Stay. The duo’s arrangement of Paul Simon’s Graceland - slower and less danceable than the original but still beautiful.  I’m Beginning to See the Light had a New Orleans groove to a song, beloved of jazz musicians since it was composed in 1944 by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges and Harry James with lyrics by Don George.

Knight Moves, a song composed by Suzanne Vega in 1985 from her first album. Not her most well known song but a favourite artist of mine and also of Zöe and Andy who recalled seeing her perform in Gateshead. A completely original take on Money by Pink Floyd from their eighth studio album Dark Side of the Moon. Some scatting and no cash till effects.

Back to jazz and more from the Gershwins with All or Nothing at all.  Zöe clearly loves Kate Bush’s work and her and Andy’s take on Kashkar from Baghdad on Kate’s album Lionheart featured more expressive vocals. Nice Work if You Can Get it, and a most distinctive version of Wes Montgomery’s West Coast Blues kept us entrapped. Red Right Hand written by Nick Cave, the theme tune to the BBC TV drama series Peaky Blinders, sustained the mood. The final song was the gorgeous River Man composed and recorded by Nick Drake on his album Five Leaves Left.

A stunning concert by a very talented duo. Those that have tickets for the lunchtime concert at the Lit & Phil on Friday 20 November are in for a treat. Zöe and Andy will pay homage to Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. The concert is sold out. Richard Morris

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