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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 2025).

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

17,550 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 514 of them this year alone and, so far, 92 this month (June 28).

From This Moment On ...

JULY 2025

Thu 03: Sarah Meek with the Dave Cottle Trio: The Louis & Ella Music Show @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45-10:30pm.
Thu 03: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. Guest band night with Just Friends: Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dave Archbold (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums). 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth. 6:00pm. £30.00.
Fri 04: Phantom Bagman + From Lagos to Longbenton @ Little Buildings, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.50. + £1.00. bf.
Fri 04: Sarah Meek with the Dave Cottle Trio: The Louis & Ella Music Show @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 04: Laurence Harrison, Tom Remon, Paul Grainger & Mark Robertson @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 05: New Century Syncopated Seven @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. ’Round Midnight (the ballad: ‘Round Midnight & Body & Soul). Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 05: Michael Woods @ The Cycle Hub, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Country blues guitar & vocals. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 05: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet with guest Josh Bentham.
Sun 06: Michael Woods @ The Cycle Hub, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Country blues guitar & vocals. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 06: Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 06: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Platform 2 Craft Ale Bar, Tynemouth Metro Station. 6:00-8:00pm. Free. Outside on the concourse. Limited seating, bring your own chair!
Sun 06: Hardy/Dixon/Champion/Karlsen @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 07: David Gray’s Flextet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 07: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: The Hopper-Watson Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £10.00. + £1.00. bf.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Simon Rose (baritone) & Steve Noble (Drums) @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - February 4

(Review by Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew)
What an unbelievable night of free improvisation the audience were treated to at The Bridge on Sunday night. Two amazing instrumentalists combined to produce two sustained sets of riveting & uncompromising jazz. Individually, both musicians were absolutely superb -  I have never heard a baritone sax played with such energy and range before. Steve Noble, on percussion, was mesmerising with his creativity and inventiveness incorporating handheld cymbals, tea towels and more sticks than you can shake a stick at. 
Spellbinding. 
However, great as both performers were in their own right their interaction was on a different level. How they managed to coordinate their improvisations was magical. The music ebbed and flowed quite seamlessly going through many styles and phases from minimalist to full-on heavy metal. At one point there was a change in direction that was so perfect that the person sitting next to me purred in appreciation. I have been to several free improvisation gigs where the performances have been fairly introspective which is understandable given the complexity and intricacy of what is going on, however, Rose and Noble had great stage presence and seemed to really strut their stuff to further enhance proceedings. A good sized audience showed their approval with rapturous applause at the end of what had been a very rewarding evening.
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