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.

Monday, November 15, 2010

VOTNJO - Simply The Best!

John Warren (cond/comp/arr), Stan Sulzmann (ten/comp/arr), Graham Hardy, Shaun Eland, Gary Nicholas, Jonny Dunn (tpts), Alex Leathard, Chris Hibbard, Keith Norris, Caroline Norris (tmbs). Andy Bennett (alt/clt), Rod Mason (alt), Graeme Wilson (ten), Sue Ferris (ten/flt), Niall Armstrong (bar).
Paul Edis (pno), Andy Champion (bs), Mark Williams (gtr), Adrian Tilbrook (dms).
If a Splinter gig never gets any better than this then I won't complain. If you missed it well that's your misfortune and I'm sure that those who packed out the Bridge will never stop telling you about it.
Difficult to single out any one piece or person but, for me, the killer moment was Stan Sulzmann playing Ruby My Dear. The Monk tune seemed to dig down into my soul as Sulzmann explored it from top to bottom - inside and out - every which way. Sumptuous, I wanted everyone I loved to be called Ruby.
Should also mention Jonny Dunn's trumpet work - really impressive new kid on the block.
The band were on top form skating through the arrangements as though they were Noddy's first Lesson!
Believe you me they weren't! John Warren deserves to be ranked alongside Gil Evans and Stan's weren't bad either!
Incredible charts brilliantly executed by a fantastic band - what else can I say?
Lance
PS: If there was a downside it was the noisy party sitting at the front - they spoiled it for everyone - themselves included if they but knew it!

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