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.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Redemption Jazz @ The Bridge

John Hall (ten); Jim Hall (keys); Keith Tulip (bs); Martin Wake (dms).
I enjoyed  this band  so much  at Hoochie back in January  that I looked forward  to   this  gig  with   eager   anticipation.  Was  that   anticipation fulfilled? Well, yes, maybe...
John blows great Dexter/Coltrane tenor you  cannot fail to be overawed by his blasts. Simply amazing! So why didn't I stay to the death?
I desperately  needed to  hear a ballad. I wanted John Hall to exchange his belligerence for tenderness for just one, perhaps two, numbers. Show that he had a sentimental side alongside his macho, kick the door down,  technique.  However, I  had to leave for the number 27 so maybe the romanticism  came later - possibly when   someone laid claim to the unmanned flugelhorn standing forlornly by the keyboard.
Brother  Jim produced  some keyboardian   sounds and Tulip and Wake did the business in the basement.
Apologies if this is a bit negative but I just needed more light and shade.
Lance.

1 comment :

Keith Tulip said...

Thanks for the blog and apologies for the belated response, no negativity received we appreciate your honesty and are aware that at the moment we are full-on, in-your-face bebop by design.
To be honest we all creased up with your description of John (including John) Ha Ha Ha!
Yes, you did miss his one moment of tenderness and two ballad's and three original numbers and Jimmy playing Flugel but there you go, when the number 27 beckons and it's tipping down outside we wouldn't have been out either on an evening like that, Newcastle - the monsoon capital of the North!
Slowly but surely the numbers in the set are evolving as we gig to a style that suits us. At the moment, the original compositions are taking shape quite nicely in rehearsal and we hope to air them soon at a venue near you - without the rain.
In fact I believe that one of our new tunes is dedicated to your good-self and if we can keep John on his daily dose of Tramidol it will remain a ballad!

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