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, May 02, 2010

Nick Pride & the Pimptones - Splinter @ The Bridge.

Nick Pride (gtr/vcl), David Wilde (ten/fl), Keith Nicholson (tpt), Chris Hibbard (tmb), Ian Pattinson (bs), Oz Cassidy (dms).
This is just about as tight a band as you'll find in a long day's stomp. What you see is what you get - precision playing covering many genré but, whether it be Soul, Funk, Hip-hop, Blues or Reggae there is a jazz groove running through like the lettering in a stick of Whitley Bay Rock ('n Roll).
The 'Pimps aren't a band dependent on virtuoso soloists rattling off a 1000 choruses whilst saying 'look at me aren't I clever?' They're a band that lets the power of the ensembles and the closely knit arrangements do the talking.
Having said that, there were moments to remember such as David Wilde's flute playing and his tenor solos totally immersed into whatever idiom. Keith and Chris (depping for Alex Leathard) had fewer solos but blew good on what they had. Drummer Cassidy drove the band like as though there were no tomorrow and maybe there isn't but Pattinson the bass had his feet firmly entrenched in today providing the melodic pulse that said bass doesn't have to be boring.
Leader Nick kept the whole shebang together playing guitar masterfully, singing minimally and spieling microphonically.
Everybody should have been dancing and I did notice Zoe (Gilby) shaking it about a bit and even Paul Bream waggled his ears!
Another good night and another good crowd.
Photos.
Next week the Sonny Simmons Quartet.
Lance.

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