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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Friday, July 09, 2010

Bob Caswell & Frank Brooker with Blaydon Jazz Trio @ Blaydon Jazz Club. 8th July.

Bob Caswell (vocals), Frank Brooker (tenor saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Jeremy McMurray (piano), Pete Ayton (electric bass) & John Hirst (drums)
Front line veterans Bob Caswell and Frank Brooker shared the limelight in the company of a first class rhythm section featuring 'house' pianist Jeremy McMurray, Pete Ayton, McMurray's Teesside sidekick playing six string electric bass and as Down Beat would say, 'rising star' John Hirst on drums.
Brooker warmed up with the trio on a couple of numbers before Caswell took it on with The Best Things in Life Are Free. Caswell possesses that old school stage craft and charm, Brooker clearly enjoyed working alongside him and for the most part was content to play a supportive role - this was very much Caswell's night. Brooker closed the first set playing clarinet on a storming version of Monk's Straight No Chaser.
The second set promised much as Brooker got down to business - jacket off, sleeves rolled up - One Foot in the Gutter followed by Hank Mobley's Soul Station were the real deal, taken at a lick with an infusion of blues for good measure. Caswell sang Ol' Man River setting such a tempo that the boys in the band did well to hang on in there. The Lady is a Tramp, Cry Me a River and others showcased our vocalist's impeccable phrasing and reading of a lyric. McMurray was on form (is he ever off form?) , Ayton knows his way around his instrument and John Hirst is, quite simply, a 'rising star'.
Audience numbers were given a welcome boost with an invited party of Mothers and Toddlers (thankfully the latter were at home in bed) and regulars from Blaydon CIU Club's dance night. A jazz crowd they weren't - Ronnie Scott would certainly have had something to say but this was a bold initiative by Roly & co. to try and stimulate interest in the always excellent jazz on offer at Blaydon Jazz Club. The next session is in September - Thursday 9th - featuring the Blaydon Jazz Quartet with the added bonus, at no extra cost, of the fabulous Ms. Ruth Lambert.
Russell.
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