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

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: 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 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

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.

Monday, April 02, 2012

Frith Street @ The Cherry Tree.

Zita Frith (vcl); Phil Richardson (pno/feet); Lloyd Wright (gtr); Ian Paterson (bs); David Francis (dms).
Frith Street come into jazz via the cabaret entrance which makes them ideal Cherry Tree material.
Ms. Frith opened up with The Way You Look Tonight which I re-titled, in the chef's honour, as The Way You Cook Tonight after sampling his Bang Bang Chicken Salad. It was delicious and is of Chinese origin. I actually thought it may been a reference to pianist Richardson who taps his feet with such force I feared that the stage might collapse. Having said that, he does some nice things with his hands getting a good groove going behind the singer.
Alright OK You Win, Georgia on my Mind, Anthony Newley's The Candyman Cometh, There Will Never Be Another You and Nice Work If You Can Get It. This latter title seemed particularly apt as, at the time, I was devouring Confit Belly Pork, Spiced Red Cabbage, Pear and Apple Purée.
Other songs included Let's Face The Music And Dance, The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B, Oasis' She's Electric, Girl From Ipanema (in Portuguese), Sway, It's a Man's World and several others all sung impeccably albeit with less abandon than at the band's recent Hoochie Coochie gig.
Vanilla Panna Cotta with Hedgerow Berries was as tasty as Lloyd Wright's guitar playing - we could have done with a little more of the latter delicacy.  In the Engine Room Ian Paterson and David Francis kept the others fuelled to make this a 'Street' that should be an 'Avenue',
As a plus for the management - every table was occupied tonight.
Lance.

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