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

18844 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 708 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 27) 77.

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

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: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 03: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 03: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Feat. Ian Bosworth (guitar); Ron Hampton (guitar); Riche Emmerson (tenor sax); Dan Johnson (tenor sax, alto sax); Garry Hadfield (keyboards); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Carol Kidd @ Theatre Royal, York.

The diminutive Ms. Kidd arrived on stage barefoot, kicking off (no pun intended) with Georgia on my Mind, followed by the gorgeous Someone to Watch Over me, gracing us with the verse which always gladdens my heart!
This set the scene for well chosen, classy Gasbook material. Familiar it may have been, but always expressed with fresh spin from Carol's unique style. Her years of experience showing through in her fluid movements, and playful & chatty rapport with her (slow to respond) audience. My Moment came unexpectedly in the second set when, poised to do a number from Annie Get Your Gun, she made an aside to Nigel referring to Mack & Mabel, whereupon I gave a solitary whoop! Hearing me, she called across asking me if I would like her to sing something from the latter...would I? So she did I Won't Send Roses ...what a thrill for me as she told us later that she doesn't do requests!
Her guitarist Nigel Clark however was something else, an equal star of the eve. His acoustic chords were quite wonderful, especially in his solo How Deep Is The Ocean. It was a perfect combination in an otherwise cavernous Theatre Royal, mercifully adapted "in the round" giving that intimate atmosphere essential to an evening such as this.
Liz.

2 comments :

Lance said...

I guess it was a voice/guitar duo gig. I've heard Carol perform in this setting - albeit not for a whole evening - she does it so well.

Anonymous said...

yes that's right, 2 sets, 45 minute duration
Liz

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