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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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.

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

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

R.I.P. Paul Gamblin

The north-east jazz world was stunned to learn that top guitarist Paul Gamblin had collapsed and died at the weekend - reportedly whilst playing rugby.
A brilliant guitarist and son of another brilliant guitarist, the late Eric Gamblin, Paul was a frequent attraction on the local scene often playing at Blaydon with various musicians and singers including Ruth Lambert and Bob Caswell.
Funeral details will be announced as soon as they are known.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
(Above photo by Eddie Carson)

10 comments :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Whenever I heard Paul play he seemed to be an unassuming sort of bloke. He was a top class player and heard all too rarely in the north east.

Russell

Roly said...

Yes Paul was an absolutely lovely person of great integrity and always that quick witted humour.
And a great player with an advanced sense of harmony, a subtle approach to accompaniment and great soloing. A master of the bebop language in fact.
Its an utter shock this has happened.
Roly

Ruth said...

I am struggling to get my head around the fact that Paul has gone. We've lost a truly great guitarist and I have lost a good friend who will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family. What a wonderful man.
Ruth.

Django Bates said...

I was lucky to work with Paul Gamblin a lot in the eighties in Dudu Pukwana's band. With really long drives across Europe in a small van full of very fiery musicians, Paul was a huge boon to the band. He was equally focused on the gig, his beloved guitar, and on the band members' well-being. He was also uniquely able to soothe troubled waters when people got tired and stressed. I remember him driving at 90 mph straight through a huge and very solid bale of hay which had fallen into the fast lane of a German motorway, then quietly explaining, 'I wasn't sure it would work but bearing in mind the speed of surrounding traffic it was the safest option'. Paul was always friendly, dependable, and a gentleman.

Django Bates

Mal Maddock said...

I knew Paul (& his dad) from when I was a young teenager coming into the business...in Whitley Bay....He was so dedicated....We played many times together both in the North East , in London and abroad......When he moved to London it was a big decision .... & when I moved down we hooked up straight away.... I have many fond & funny memories.... he was a vegetarian & I always admired him for that ... Me not having the willpower ... But one night we went for a few pints..... & afterwards went for a takeaway curry, he ordered chicken curry.. & I said hold on I thought you were veggie ...."not when I am P****d I'm not" was his reply.......A great guy that will be missed........ My love to his familly Mal Maddock

Rod Sinclair said...

I worked with Paul in the 70s before he headed off to London and didn't meet up with him again till he turned up, 30+ yrs later, at the Maggie Bank .
He was still as fired up by music, full of enthusiasm and a zest for life. The news of his death is greeted with great sadness at the loss of a great player and inspirational human being. Rod

Eric Richards said...

I met Paul at college in Newcastle, shared a flat with him and Steve Creese in Maida Vale, toured Europe with him in Dudu Pukwana's band and did a UK tour with Gloria Gaynor with him and countless other gigs I guess. Last time I saw him was in Gelsenkirchen many, many years ago. I will always remember him for his ever-present enthusiasm,which just kept on bubbling over, be it for music or just life in general. Tragic that he had to go so soon. Shame we lost touch. He will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them at this sad time. Eric Richards

Eric Richards said...

I met Paul at college in Newcastle, shared a flat with him and Steve Creese in Maida Vale, toured Europe with him in Dudu Pukwana's band and did a UK tour with Gloria Gaynor with him and countless other gigs I guess. Last time I saw him was in Gelsenkirchen many, many years ago. I will always remember him for his ever present enthusiasm,which just kept on bubbling over, be it for music or just life in general. Tragic that he had to go so soon. Shame we lost touch. He will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them at this sad time. Eric Richards

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance,
I find this hard to take in, I did know Paul quite well and our paths did cross, I always used to ask his father Eric how he was doing, and I uesd to get the odd message from dad at windows, saying Paul had been in and was asking how I was doing, what a shame we lost touch, with us both working away. during our earlier years...
What very sad sad news, he must have only been around my age, maybe a bit younger, great musician, like his dad.

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

Anonymous said...

Paul was a great friend of mine during the years I lived in London. As a fellow Geordie, he helped me loads when I first moved there. I have just found out about this and am in a state of shock. God bless you Paul.

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