Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 544 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 3) 8

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

July

Sat 04: Spats Langham’s Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Take the ‘A’ Train to Summertime: From Melody to Masterclass. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Strictly Smokin’ quintet + House of the Black Gardenia @ Sunset Festival, Transmission Dynamics, Cramlington. 5:00-9:30pm. Free. Tickets: Eventbrite. Multi-bill.
Sat 04: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick. 8:00pm. Free.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Kevin Eland (trumpet).
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 07: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Sax on the Tyne @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00. Feat. Sax on the Tyne & St George’s Community Choir.
Wed 08: Abbie Finn Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: 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 10: Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Olly Styles & Jacob Egglestone @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 10: Archipelago @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:00pm . New album fundraiser gig.
Fri 10: King Bees @ Rebel Yell, Nelson St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Watson Walker Edis @ The Cluny. October 30

Lewis Watson (tenor saxophone), Rob Walker (drums) & Paul Edis (keyboards)
(Review by Russell).
 Cluny 2, the Cluny’s additional space deep in the bowels of the earth, hosted the latest of Schmazz’s regular last Tuesday of the month gigs. 
Watson Walker Edis have kept a low profile since their début performance at the Jazzathon fund raiser some fifteen months ago at the Lit and Phil. Indeed their only other outing was at the library in June of this year. They were two memorable performances and the Cluny date promised much. 
There was a good turn out at Cluny 2 (some prefer the smaller intimate space). 
Tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson informed the crowd that the first set would consist of a suite (the music heard at the Lit and Phil) lasting about forty five minutes. Those who heard those earlier performances knew they were in for something special! A series of compositions written by members of the trio (some co-written) ranged from ballad form to fearsome post Bop sections to stunning explorations of Coltrane and Ayler. 
During the interval many of those hearing the music for the first time said how impressed they were. 
The second set premièred new material. 
Watson’s articulation on tenor, in whichever register, reaffirmed his position at the top table and pianist Paul Edis’ left hand more than compensated for the absence of a bass player. Rob Walker, a listening, sight-reading drummer, contributed effectively throughout. An indication of just how good Watson Walker Edis are as a unit is the thought that a dep being drafted in simply wouldn't work. The next time they play a gig make sure you are there – you won’t regret it.
Russell

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3 comments :

Anonymous said...

As good as Paul is, a great bass player is the primary element required to outline and underpin harmonic structure. No? Listen to some of Bill Evans or Oscar Peterson for example, and hear the difference when the bassist cuts in. A full aural spectrum is much preferred, although the only element that could be left out of an ensemble may be the drummer/percussionist if a famous jazz musician is to be believed - he quipped "it takes a helluva drummer to be better than no drummer at all" You never see a full orchestra without a bass player, but percussionists are at times, very conspicuous by their absence and or sparsity. Just my opinion of course.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 5:58:00 PM
Lance said...

Not quite sure where you're coming from here 'Nony'. A bass player does add depth to a combo but, in the absence of one - whether by necessity or choice, a two-handed pianist can do the job. The fact that this is the third gig these guys have done tells me that they are happy with the set-up. As one who knows Lewis Watson's very firm opinions (and Paul's) if they'd wanted a bass player they would have got one!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 11:11:00 PM
Anonymous said...

I was there. I enjoyed it, but a bass player was a BIG miss. As I said in my post - just my opinion.

Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:33:00 AM

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