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.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Customs House Big Band with Ruth Lambert @ Customs House, South Shields. March 24



Peter Morgan (md/tmb), Ken de Vere, Gordon Marshall, Michael Lamb, Simon Dennis, Paul Riley-Gledhill (tpts), Chris Gurgit-Smith, Mike Fletcher, Gareth Weaver (tmbs), Jill Brett (alt/flt), Elaine Willis (alt/clt), Alan Marshall, Jim McBriarty (ten), Chris Atkinson (bar), Bill Britain (pno), John Lowe (bs), Roy Willis (gtr), Ian Wynd (dms), Ruth Lambert (vcl).



All I can do is reiterate Russell's comments from last night - albeit I don't share his apathy towards Glenn Miller, possibly because In The Mood was the first record I ever bought and it sent me on this wonderful journey that took over the rest of my life!

What Russell didn't mention was that Jim McBriarty had nice solos on Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue and I've Found a New Baby or that trumpets Lamb and Dennis also blew well. The trumpet section tonight, incidentally, was filled out by Gordon Marshall.
Stardust didn't bother me and I applaud the attempt to present it differently  Artie Shaw still rules on that one though.
What did knock me out was the rich and lush arrangement of Warm Feeling - it had just that!
And Ruth! As well as the numbers Russell enthused about, our girl also did Love is Here To Stay, Bewitched, Night and Day, The Man I Love and a knock-out version of Time After Time where her jazz qualities really took hold.
Excellent concert although not the full house it deserved.
Lance.
PS: I agree - Jill was exceptional.
Customs House Big Band website.

2 comments :

Bill Weston said...

We were at the Customs House on Tuesday 23rd and enjoyed the programme. At some point during the evening Peter Morgan advised us that the band would be playing in September at the Saville Exchange. Would you know the exact date as I can't find it on the Saville website.

Lance said...

June 18 at the Saville. 8:00 start.

Blog Archive