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

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: 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 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

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.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Afternoon Delights @ The Gateshead Jazz Festival

Where do I begin - there were so many? Well, Jason Yarde (pictured left) with the Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra was one. He blew up a storm on alto and soprano and the VOTNJO were with him every bar of the way. In particular, Adrian Tilbrook excelled.
Tremendous set.
Prior to Jason and the VOTNJO I'd caught BRASS JAW at the Gateshead Heritage Centre which is actually the former St Mary's Church.
This was the gig of them all to date!
Ryan Quigley (tpt), Paul Towndrow (alt), Konrad Wisniewski (ten) and Allan Beauvoisin (bar).
The program mixed originals with piece's like Sting's Walkin' on the Moon, Cedar Walton's Bolivia and a balladic Falling in Love All Over Again.
This latter number had Paul at his most rhapsodic verging on the Johnny Hodges meets Freddy Gardner - sumptuous.
Ryan was marvellous - if he'd been around in Joshua's time the wall's of Jericho would have come tumbling down without any help.
Likewise the other two saxes - tremendous.
Apart from the music there was also improvised choreography as the quartet wandered around the former church in different directions making the most of the magnificent acoustics. Loved every minute of it.
In the Jazz Lounge I heard, Horn Dogs and Extreme Measures both of whom were superb whilst on the concourse the Kettle Quartet, for me, got the nod.
Lance.
PS: Still pondering on Abdullah Ibrahim. So, for the moment, I'll just say that the audience loved him.
Picture bottom left of Brass Jaw is by official Sage photographer Mark Savage and is not for use in events unrelated to The Sage.

No comments :

Blog Archive