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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

RIP Frank Carson

With jazz it's the way you play them - with Frank Carson it was the way he tells them. He did a lot of charity work particularly in the North East where St Clare's Hospice named a ward after him.  I make no apology for paying tribute to him.
And what better way to remember him than with a few of his gags.

Private Carson I didn't see you in camouflage class today. Thank you very much sir.
A fella walks into a pet shop and says: “Give me a wasp.” The shopkeeper replies: “We don't sell wasps.” He says: “There's one in the window.”
A guy goes into B&Q and says: “I'd like some nails please.” “How long would you like them?” “I want to keep them.”
An Irishman's wife gave birth to twins. Her husband demanded to know who the other man was.
I don't think my wife likes me very much, when I had a heart attack she wrote for an ambulance.
A man goes into Boots and says: “Have you got Viagra?” “Do you have a prescription?” asks the chemist. “No,” he replies, “But I’ve got a photograph of the wife... ”
Two Irishman went into a pub and the landlord said you’re not allowed to eat your own food in here, so they swopped sandwiches.
When the Pope asked Frank if he had ever met Elvis Presley, Carson replied: "No I have not, but it won't be long now."
He may not have been a musician but he had a musician's sense of humour...
Sadly missed.
Obituary.
Lance.

2 comments :

Liz said...

A generous tribute Lance, you always rcognise class in your musical world, and have extended it to a loveable comedian with a big talent for laughter and a bigger heart for the needy
Liz

Anonymous said...

Frank used to talk of his recollection of two terrible winters in the 1970s - - Mike & Bernie.

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