Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Red Rodney at the Corner House 1983

Listening to a CD by the Red Rodney Quintet made back in the 1950s brought to mind the evening when the trumpet player appeared at the Corner House in Heaton. This was in December 1983 and Red gave a scintillating performance with the Willie Payne Band (Mike Gilby (tpt), Syd Warren (fl/ten), Bill Harper (pno), Derek Dixon (bs), Willie Payne (gtr) and somebody is going to have to remind me of the drummers name!)
It was one of those 'nights to remember' even if I have forgotten the drummer's name and it has to be said that Mike Gilby held his own with the American as did the rest of Willie's band.
I'd already had a couple of photos of the gig in album but I have managed to hunt a few more out so I've herded them all together in a Red Rodney album which can be viewed by clicking here. And if you can tell me the name of the drummer please do.

9 comments :

Anonymous said...

I used to go to see Syd's quintet at their weekly C/Hse sessions - he was a great tenor player.
I think the drummer was Dennis and not sure, but surname might have been Stephenson? He moved away from the area. He usually played drums for them, sometimes it was Scott Adair.
Roly

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

Like Roly I too was a regular at Syd Warren's Corner House gig.I was there at the Red Rodney gig.I can't for the life of me think who the drummer was on the night.The mystery man in the photoraph looks a bit like Ronnie Pearson.Any thoughts ?

Russell

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it's Dennis. I recognise him from the photo. Just not sure of his surname - I think it is Stephenson. I remember often chatting to him in the break. He was a very nice person. Then he moved away (I think to Liverpool area). I think Willie Payne was a civil servant at Longbenton. A great Wes type player who I think first came over to UK as a pro with Winifred Atwell. I heard he had moved back to W Indies some years back and sadly, more recently, that he had passed away.
Roly

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

Regarding the mystery drummer...I've consulted a walking jazz encyclopedia on the matter,so if this name is right I can't claim any credit whatsoever-is it Dennis Healey ?

Russell

Anonymous said...

I think you've nailed him Russell.
Thank you (and Mr/Ms Jazz Britannica.)

Anonymous said...

Yes that's it - Dennis Healey.
Very good drummer.
Happy memories of that quintet at C/House. Blues March, Donna Lee, Filthy McNasty, Are you real, Come Rain or Shine et al. I think some Mike Gilby arrangements? Plus a unique reharmonisation of Basin Street Blues by Billy Harper with his flatted 10th parallel chords.
And a great night when Willie Payne and Tal Farlow reached the heights.
Roly

Lance said...

I recall they had an arrangement of "Meet the Flintstones".

Anonymous said...

Just caught blog re this gig. Yes it was my old mate Dennis Healey on drums and of course the present O H on piano!

I worked with Den at the Dolce Vita in the 60's and believe that I am the only member of the band still around. Dennis, Derek Dixon, Art Mowat and Ken Morrell are sadly no longer with us---not sure about Bob Stephenson as he moved to Scotland. Den was a great timekeeper, so important for Shearing arrangements but he was really a big band drummer, his idol was Buddy Rich. We had great nights there with a host of great American musicians who came in for a blow after the concerts at the City Hall. I have so many pics of those days including one of Basie's drummer Sonny Payne playing drums behind me singing 'Moanin'. He was as High as the proverbial and played right through all the stops!!
Ah, Memories!!

Cheers Anne De Vere( not a nom de plume!)

Anonymous said...

Anne - we'd love to see that photo - please.

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