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

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Friday, June 15, 2012

The Customs House Big Band w. Ruth Lambert @ Saville Exchange, North Shields. June 14.

Peter Morgan MD & bass trombone. Jill Brett, George Robinson, Alan Marshall, Amber Reeve Chris Kaberry, Saxes. Paul Riley Gledhill, , Kevin Eland, Jay Smith, Annette Butters, trumpets. Chris Kurji Smith, Gareth Weaver, Michael Fletcher, trombones. Bill Brittain, keyboard, Alan Smith, bass guitar, Roy Willis, guitar, Dave Francis, drums. Ruth Lambert, vocal.
(Review by Miles).
The CHBB pulled out all the stops again last night to a small but appreciative audience, one with quite a few musicians amongst it. Fifteen instrumentals and nine songs were played and enjoyed, one with audience participation, Basie's April In Paris. New ones to me were Clam Chowder, Switch In Time, Belavino Blues and a beautiful Quintessence by lead altoist Jill Brett.
Highspots for me were Kevin Eland's flugel horn feature Blue, an up tempo Take the A Train, Coconut Champagne, Hunting Wabbitts, Gordon Goodwin's take on Bugs Bunny which brought back memories of my younger days and Billy May's music for Puddy Tat et al. and C Jam Blues.
Ruth Lambert never disappoints, my favourites were My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Time After Time and At Last. Soloists throughout the show were Jill Brett, George Robinson, Alan Marshall, Amber Reeve, Chris Kurji Smith, Kevin Eland, Jay Smith, and the often overlooked but rock solid and swinging rhythm section.
The encore was a swinging Mack The Knife and it was nice that Ruth reinstated Polly Peachum in the lyrics instead of Satchmo's Lotte Lenya.
It is perhaps a little unfair to single anyone out but mention must be made of Alan Marshall's tenor solos swinging in the fast numbers and dreamy and melodic behind the vocals, but the hero of the night was Kevin Eland who has suffered a very sore bottom lip since last Sunday yet played in his Maynard mode things most trumpet players couldn't do with perfect chops.
A great night, looking forward to the next one.
Miles

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