Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Jammin' @ Hoochie Coochie. Oct.11

Pete Gilligan (pno); Mark Williams (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms) + Lindsay Hannon (vcl); Belinda (vcl); James Harrison (pno); Ian Simpson (gtr).
(Review by Lance).
Things got off to a good start with Blues For Pete - or was it Pat? followed by Waltz for Debby which swung all the way in 3/4. The guys were giving it everything on a Bud Powell number and I remarked to my neighbour "who's going to have the guts to get up here?" Needless to say, Lindsay took up the challenge with an incredible Take The A Train. Our girl didn't just take the A Train she drove it like crazy up to Sugar Hill in Harlem. If she'd been at the wheel of my number 27 bus I'd have been home in half the time!. Things mellowed with a slower but rockier Watermelon Man which saw the worthy member from Ashington, John T, tripping the light fantastic. 
Next up, two young guys took over on piano and guitar and I groaned, what have we here?
My groans quickly changed to gasps as they laid down their credentials with a swinging Autumn Leaves - these two could play!
Then a most pleasant surprise. The Wardell Gray classic Twisted. Not just the theme but the complete solo played as The Head. This was Wardell and Annie Ross transferred to keyboard! The solos took off with Paul and Jeff chipping in nicely with the two sitters in - like wow!
Oh yes, the pianist was James Harrison and the guitarist Ian Simpson (both pictured) - note the names.
The Champions (Zoe and Andy) arrived during the interval but did not sit in when the second set got underway. Instead, Lindsay returned for Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? and In a Sentimental Mood. The former song punchy and bluesy, the latter languorous and melancholy.
The new kids on the block took a Caravan to Druridge Bay and back and a lady called Belinda sang When Sunny Gets Blue. Rich toned, the epitome of clarity. The lyric or rather the line - Then the rain begins to fall, pitter-patter, pitter-patter - took on a special significance when I left for the number 27. The rain was falling but it was no mere pitter, patter...
Photos.
Lance.

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