Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Giants of Jazz @ Roker Park.

Mick Hill (tpt), Don Fairly (tmb), Gavin Lee (clt), Brian Bennett (bjo), Phil Henderson (sousa), George Davidson (dms).
The last time I encountered a band that styled themselves as "The Giants of Jazz" the line-up included Dizzy, Monk, Sonny Stitt & Kai Winding. As all of the above are now dead the only living Giant of Jazz I could think of was Sonny Rollins. My heart went pitter patter and I hurried to the park in Roker, Sunderland.
Alas, when I saw Brian Bennett, I realised that Rollins wouldn't be mounting this bandstand although Sonny Rollins (79 on Monday Sept. 7) with banjo accompaniment does offer some intriguing possibilities.
Speaking with Brian he explained that the term "Giants" referred to the band's expanding waistlines. He explained he was only depping and had had to stuff a pillowcase down his trousers before he was allowed on the stand.
They kicked off with "Alexander's Ragtime Band", followed by "When You're Smiling", "Lazy River", "I Want a Little Girl", "At the Jazz Band Ball" and so on - all good tried and tested standards.
Mick Hill gave a strong lead and soloed with panache. He reminded me at times of Ray Harley, his big strong tone leading them to the promised land. On trombone, Don also played with a more modern approach than is the norm for trad bands.
Clarinetist Gavin Lee is probably the most New Orleansy of the frontline and he weaved in an out of the ensemble with the skill and technique of an Irving Fazola. Gavin also plays at Corner House on this coming Monday night with the Vieux Carré Jazzmen.
Banjo, sousaphone and drums did the necessary and, despite the cold, wet, afternoon it was a good session and, because they were unamplified, there was the added bonus of being spared the pseudo - Satchmo vocals so beloved of British tradsters.
Lance.
The final park gigs of the season takes place at Carlisle Park, Morpeth (or is it Morpeth Park, Carlisle?) next Sunday Sept. 13 when the RIVER CITY JAZZMEN play 2 sets (2:30 pm & 3:45 pm and, on the same afternoon from 1:00 pm CONTRABAND smuggle their brand of smooth jazz into Newbiggin.
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