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

19,061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 925 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 30) 104.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Friday, October 30, 2026

Sue Ferris Quintet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Oct. 19

© Roly
Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (keyboards); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

A return visit to Blaydon Jazz Club for the Sue Ferris Quintet. A tenor saxophonist of renown, Sue Ferris is one of the region's banker bets. The Black Bull welcomed Sue for the umpteenth time, such is her popularity. Joined by her established quintet - frontline partner Graham Hardy, fast-emerging pianist Ben Lawrence, incomparable bassist Andy Champion and first-call drummer John Bradford - the bookies weren't taking anymore bets, it was odds-on this evening's concert would deliver the goods.

The Jody Grind to get the ball rolling, Horace Silver a staple in Sue's pad. Look at the Birdie came as something of a surprise. Was Wayne Shorter's tune a first for Sue and the boys? The 'modern jazz' selections continued, first Benny Golson's Along Came Betty, followed by Nica's Dream - you just can't keep Mr Silver out of the picture for too long. Graham Hardy's trumpet and flugelhorn playing was more than up to the mark, as was Ben Lawrence's piano playing, Ben giving a first outing to his newly acquired keyboard.     

Second set, what a treat to hear Sue tearing into Dear Johnny B. Definitely a new one for the SF5, keep it in the set, Sue! Andy Champion and John Bradford were there usual immaculate selves. Thinking about it, as modern jazz quintets go, Sue's outfit is up there with the best of them. Time for more from Mr Silver - Song for My Father. And to close out a most enjoyable evening, Roy Hargrove's Soppin' the Biscuit. It had been another corking session at Blaydon Jazz Club. 

Next month, Monday 9 November, how about some Muggsy Spanier? Yes, Francis Joseph 'Muggsy' Spanier will be in town. Well, in spirit, 125 years to the day of the cornetist's birth. An all-star quartet, the 'Bechet-Spanier Quartet', hot foot from the Classic Jazz Party, will be playing Muggsy Spanier and Sidney Bechet. Join Lewis Taylor (as Muggsy), Michael McQuaid (as Bechet), from Paris, superlative guitarist Félix Hunot and, from London, string bass maestro Harry Evans, in a salute to Muggsy. Advance tickets can be reserved via the Blaydon Jazz Club Facebook page. Book now! Russell      
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