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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

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.
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).

Monday, August 06, 2012

Beneath The Underdog

I have just finished reading Charles Mingus “Beneath the Underdog”  and thought that it was a brilliant insight into the mind of a brilliant man. What does anybody else think ? I would be interested to hear opinions/criticisms etc.
Steve Owen.
at

4 comments :

Lance said...

Steve, I've owned the book for years and never yet made it to the finish. I couldn't understand how an autobiography could have a written comment at the beginning saying that some of the characters and incidents are fictitious. Also the predilection with sex and race I felt was written to shock and sell. However, having the greatest admiration for the man's music and respecting your opinion I will try it again and see if, 40 years on, my judgement has matured, mellowed or become more worldly-wise!

Monday, August 06, 2012 7:17:00 pm
Steve Owen said...

Thanks Lance,
Look forward to your comments

Steve

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 12:26:00 pm
Lance said...

Well Steve, I made it to the end this time and, perhaps, after looking at it with a more jaded, blasé, streetwise mind, I was able to perhaps cope with it more or less objectively.
I delved into Brian Priestley's biography whilst reading the autobiog and it was interesting to note that Mingus' long time drummer, Danny Richmond observes that, "A lot of Mingus' writing was fantasy."
Accepting this makes it more readable but doesn't make up for the lack of musical insight into the creation of some of the greatest jazz compositions and performances either side of Ellington and Gil Evans.
If only he'd just tantalised us with snippets of his gargantuan sexual appetites instead of giving us "the whole nine yards" (well perhaps not quite that much)
Art Pepper and Anita O'Day's books were controversial but at least they managed to balance the sex and the drugs with the music. Charles didn't.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 9:45:00 pm
Steve said...

Hi Lance.
Totally agree with your comments here and also with the reference to the Art Pepper book.
Still you have to admit it was a bloody good read.

Thursday, September 13, 2012 12:41:00 pm

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