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

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.

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.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Take the A Train with Radio 4

You just must listen to the Documentary of the Week on Radio 4. It’s all about the A train, yes, the one immortalised in the Billy Strayhorn number that Ellington used as his signature tune. 35 miles of heavy railtrack, which runs through New York and its suburbs. I was so glad to catch this programme at 11am today. It explains what you can expect to experience on the journey, the homeless people who live on the train, rubbing shoulders with the rich, the graffiti artists and the workers. The journey takes you through beautiful scenery and places of cultural significance. You’ll hear many different languages. Apparently 136 different languages are spoken in the Queens area of New York. There was an interview in the National Jazz Museum at Harlem, accompanied by someone playing the trombone.
Catch this on the BBC i player if you want to know about the cultural scene around New York jazz.
Link to program.
Ann Alex.
(Photo of A Train courtesy of Hilary Gilby.)
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3 comments :

Lance said...

Thank you Ann for drawing this program to our attention. It gave a really good picture of this legendary train.
There are 2 versions - local and express. When I boarded it I got on the express instead of the local and travelled 10 stops further than I needed! But yes it's as exotic a journey as any journey anywhere. A couple of girls asked me a question in French. I didn't know what the question was so I said, "Non". I've often wondered if I'd made the greatest mistake of my life there...

Friday, June 29, 2012 11:48:00 pm
Liz said...

just listened to it, absolutely fascinating, thank you Ann for pointing it out...loved the bit when that lady said, "Whatever nationality you are on the A train, you will be in the minority!"
Liz

Saturday, June 30, 2012 4:38:00 pm
Anonymous said...

I did exactly the same as Lance. I wanted to go to 110th and it took me to 124th. Nobody asked me any questions but I got a lot of questioning looks walking the fourteen blocks to 110th.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012 7:39:00 pm

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