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, October 31, 2011

Bright Lights and Promises - Fulfilled. Janis Ian @ The Sage.

Janis Ian (gtr/vcl).
Back in the late '70s. I worked in a record store which was where I first heard a disc of Janis Ian singing  Bright Lights and Promises. I flipped, bought the lp, and the guys in the band I was playing in at the time flipped too!
Time moved on and Janis gradually faded from our radar.
UNTIL TONIGHT!
Tonight the lady inspired a double encore from a  packed house who, including myself and keyboard player from that distant band Brian Chester, gave her a standing ovation!
Richly deserved, I hasten to add. 
This was folk music at its most melodic. The voice and the words so crystal clear, Janis' guitar accompaniment perfect and, if that wasn't enough, her stories in between the tunes kept us both laughing and near crying. The audience were intent - if someone had dropped a pin the bomb squad would have been alerted.
An absolutely wonderful session. The black curls may have been replaced by a lighter shade of grey, the husband ditched for a wife, but what counted was the voice.
Janis, we'll take Tea and Sympathy with you anytime.
Luvya.
Lance.
PS: The queue for CDs and autographs at the end of the show was the longest I've ever known at The Sage...        Janis plays the ARC Stockton on Tuesday night.
Link from Hil.

2 comments :

Hil said...

I really missed out on this one Lance....alas.

For the lovers of jazz who perhaps might read this can I just show you what this lady is like. Ok its certainly not jazz, but its one of 'those sort of songs' that makes an impact on you at a certain age. I thought I was that girl 'At 17'

If you have a moment to spare in your busy lives just stop and listen to the words.

I hope you enjoy.....Hilary, x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oCTMcbQ1QE

Lance said...

Hil you would have loved it. A hypnotic personality - I was spellbound

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