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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: 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 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Jazz Café and Old Man Crombie Just keep Rolling (and Rocking) along

Peter Gilligan (pno); Mark Williams (gtr); Claire Kelly (vcl); Ray Burns (hca/acc); Paul Grainger (bs); Elaine Binney (vln).
The wintry weather continued and it wasn't surprising that the Jazz Café was low on customers and performers when I arrived. The archaic sounds of Ken Colyer filled the air. Keith Crombie explained that they had a visitor from New Orleans and he wanted to make them feel at home.
Peter and Mark eventually made the effort and the piano/guitar duo played some boppy variations on Straight No Chaser and Anthropology. Perhaps as a tribute to Dave Brubeck's 90th Peter managed to work Take Five into the number.
On Wave, Ray Burns - resplendant in a tweed suit topped by a deer-stalker hat - blew chromatic harp and sounded good.
Claire Kelly sang Sweet Georgia Brown in F# without a safety net and followed up with West Coast Blues.
Paul Grainger arrived in time for Solar and How Insensitive - which ended up in a Jimi Hendrix burn with Mark well and truly on fire - insensitive it most certainly was - a real blast furnace!
Elaine joined Claire for Satin Doll that had some doodly accordion from Ray and really nice violin work from Elaine.
Claire and Mark did a rather special version of I've Grown Accustomed to her Face that really hit the spot.
Sadly, I had to leave at this point - not for the Bridge as per but for the Metro. The current weather conditions making my bus connection uncertain.
Lance.

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