Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

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