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.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Jam Session @ The Bridge Thursday April 14.

Omid Ramak, David Carnegie, Rob Bates (Drums), John Pope, Ivan Scutt (Bass), Mark Williams, Tim Knowles, Matt Office (Guitar), Harley Johnson, Colm Rooney, Chris Finch (Keys w/ Chris Finch also on Trumpet), Fiona Littlewood, Lindsay Hannon, ? (Vocals), Stuart Findon, Claude Werner, ?, Paul Gowland (Tenor Saxophone)
I arrived at 6pm for the 6.30pm opening. Sat downstairs with a pint of Stella, listening to some Stan Getz on my mp3 and had a close encounter with a young prostitute who wanted money for a bus ticket; no need to go into more detail!
The show didn't kick off until 7.30ish and began with a few tunes from the house band - Omid, John and Mark. This included Blues for Pat (Metheny) and All The Things You Are. As the house band disembarked to allow musicians from the audience to jam, there was only Myself, Ivan and Matt to deliver the goods. But half way through the song, in walked Rob who crashed straight on drums with style. More musicians were arriving and the tunes were pouring out: including a free improv session, re-working of Scarborough Fair and classics such as Autumn Leaves (with Mark Williams in heavy metal mode), You Don't Know What Love Is, Mr PC, Oleo, Bright Size Life (Metheny), Alone Together, Doxy and the night finished with Willow Weep For Me.
A great night, great crowd of musicians and jazz followers and I'm even told by Omid that the bar upstairs will be open for service as of the next Thursday. So it was defintely worth the effort to make it down.
Harley J.

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