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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Paul Edis Sextet @ Blaydon Jazz Club

Graeme Wilson (ten), Graham Hardy (tpt), Chris Hibbard (tmb), Paul Edis (pno), Neil Harland (bs), Adam Sinclair (dms). Photo left courtesy of Eddie Carson.
It would be difficult to pick six better north-eastern musicians than the above, or two better composer/arrangers than Paul and Graeme. Throw standards such as "Out of Nowhere", "In A Sentimental Mood", "Joyspring" and "All the Things You Are" into the mix, add some original originals and you have the recipe for a couple of very listenable sets with a distinctly west coast feel to some of the numbers.
Particularly outstanding was Paul's version of "All the Things etc." which he re-titled "All the Things You Aren't" (Anglifying Maynard Ferguson's "All The Things You Ain't"?). This had the horns playing a Bach-like fugue as an intro - brilliant.
Paul, Neil and Adam played one of Roly's compositions "Job Shufflebottom" as a trio with some effective drumming from Adam. The title, incidentally, comes from an insurance claim that Roly dealt with in a former life. Amazing where composers find inspiration! Perhaps I/we could write some words to it?!
All in all it was a session that went down okay with the small but enthusiastic audience.
Personally, much as I enjoyed it, I felt a few more uptempo numbers would have broken things up a bit and perhaps more dynamics on the slower ones.
Lance.

1 comment :

Russell said...

Yes, top drawer musicians, excellent material and I do agree a change of tempo would have added something.

Chris Hibbard's feature ''Black Orpheus'' was superb (as always) and the writing of the local musicians is very much up there with the best. Roly Veitch's ''Job Shufflebottom'' has become a favourite (Adam Sinclair's drumming on the tune is tremendous), bandleader Edis' ''Angular'' works and Graeme Wilson's writing has the hallmark of quality.

Russell

Blog Archive