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

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.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Paul Edis/Roly Veitch Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club

Paul Edis (pno), Roly Veitch (gtr), Neil Harland (bs), Billy Shield (dms).
Another one of those charming miniatures that Roly Veitch so expertly puts together.
Last month it was the trio with Noel Dennis & Neil Harland, This time around a quartet co-led with Paul Edis with Neil on bass and Billy Shield drums.
The room had a respectable sized crowd who listened intently to the opening "I Hear A Rhapsody". Intently was the operative word as, volumewise, Roly's amp was set on one of those low digit numbers that few guitarists know exist.
However, the dial was given a clockwise turn or two for "Dream Dancing" and at last we could hear the tasteful runs and phrases along with the well chosen chords to compliment Paul's piano.
"Jordu", "Cottontail", "Django", "Sultry Serenade" - a real gem - "Donna Lee" and "A Child is Born" were some of a well chosen selection of jazz standards along with some not unduly overdone tunes from the gasbook such as "Darn That Dream" and Jan Savitt's "It's A Wonderful World."
There were also a couple of originals from Paul - a boppy "Charlie's Line" that in places reminded me of a sailors hornpipe as played by Charlie Parker - and a more sensitive opus entitled simply "Dedicated to the Duke".
Paul was also featured on solo piano playing a cleverly interwoven medley of "Surrey with The Fringe on Top", "Blue on Green" and "'Round Midnight."
Neil Harland, as ever excelled on bass his melodic lines and steady accompaniment absolutely gelled.
On drums, Billy Shield kept it simple yet effective.
It was a good gig even though Roly didn't do any crooning - his lyrical phrasing on guitar made up for it. Photos.
Lance.
PS: Catch Roly on 29th August @ Boston Spa with Keith Stephen's Gypsy Jazz Trio.

1 comment :

Roly said...

Thanks for the nice review Lance. It's a moot point re volume level. So much music now is at high volume, it seems to me low volume can sometimes have more impact. Just got back from an unavoidable trip to Metro Centre - even high class stores now have loud music blasting out endlessly. I hate it.
(then my wife grumbles about me moaning on about it). I wonder how much all this saturation affects people's inclination to go to live music events? If it wasn't for my particular interest in music I think I'd be trying to escape from it. As I sit here the proverbial jobbing builder's radio is blasting out. Loud radio seems part of the job spec for these guys. Oh for peace and quiet.
And three cheers for Ed Bickert.
http://sardine.tripod.com/bickert.html
Roly

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