Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

August

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Three performances: Grey St. 11:30am; Northumberland St. 2:30pm; Great North Museum 4:45pm.
Sat 08: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ FIKA Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £20.00.; £40.00. to inc. glass of fizz & food options.

Sun 09: Sticky Lips @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Various city centre locations/times.
Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Thanks for The Memory

A section of memorabilia - Posters, Programmes, etc. has been expanded with material from Miles W, Colin A and myself added to items already supplied by Roly and Roy W.
It's fascinating stuff ranging from Dickie Valentine in panto to some mysterious 'Modernists From Blaydon Rhythm Club' (see picture). Perhaps Roly may be able to shed light on this latter group even though he was probably only about 5 at the time!
Lance

1 comment :

Roly said...

That 'modernists' at Blaydon is a new one on me but funnily enough, Ernie Graham, who comes to BJC often says jokingly; 'There has always been jazz activity in Blaydon'.
I don't know who they were but there is a good chance it involved my dad's younger brother Ron (Scone), a good jazz/club drummer. Ron was involved with the local jazz scene for many years but also worked part time as a club drummer, organised dances, etc. They had a group The Rhythmaires - Norman Fisher accdn/pno, Arthur Stobbs tnr, Arthur Luke tbn - can't remember the others. Just a small dance/jazz band. There was more pure jazz activity at The Railway Tavern in Blaydon (long demolished). That would be in the 50s. Knowing Ron, I think they would have played mainstream leaning to bop styles. Modern might have meant 'not trad'.
When I was a teenager, Uncle Ron tried to get me interested in jazz and to take some formal drum lessons but I had no interest at the time.

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