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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Review: The New Couriers - Brazilian Thoroughfare.

Martin Drew (dms), Jim Hart (vbs), Mornington Lockett (ten/sop), Steve Melling (pno), Paul Morgan (bs).
I mentioned I won a CD in the raffle at last night's Newology gig. The CD in question was Brazilian Thoroughfare by the New Couriers. Recorded live at The 606 Club back in 2008 and released on the Trio label - it is a belter!
Not surprisingly, it evokes memories of the original Couriers thanks to some Tubbs-like vibes playing from Jim Hart and Scott/Hayes tenor from Mornington Lockett.
With three of the five tunes being from the pen of Victor Feldman it is little surprise that the vibes are well featured. and Jim Hart is a worthy carrier of the torch left by Feldman and Hayes.
Lockett too is tailor-made for the role of Tubby Scott (or Ronnie Hayes). Morn. belongs to that elite group of younger British tenor men who are edging away from the peloton - I'm talking Simon Spillett, Paul Booth, Simon Allen and maybe one or two more.
On a slower number such as the slightly exotic New Delhi played on soprano ML gets into a funky groove that has  modal overtones.
On piano, Steve Melling digs deep into our innermost feelings - witness his solo on Feldman's Falling in Love. Steve contributed the title track and he featured himself and Jim Hart in an exciting piano/vibes duet.
The final track - You and the Night and the Music - is an uptempo blast in the best Jazz Couriers tradition.
Paul Morgan - another elite bass player - provided the essential foundation as well as chipping in with solid solos.
Martin Drew kicked it along mega mightily giving the soloists no other option but to swing their butts off or die.
Nobody died.
A raffle that was well worth investing in and if there ain't a raffle near you click here..
Lance.

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