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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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.

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.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. 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.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

RIP Mickey Baker.

(Obituary by Jim Simpson)
Yesterday one of the all-time great jazz, blues and rhythm and blues guitar men, Mickey Baker died.
From Louisville, Kentucky, following a tumultuous upbringing at 19 Mickey found himself in New York, determined to make a living as a jazz musician. He formed his own combo, went on the road and found himself stranded in California where he fell under the spell of bluesman Pee Wee Clayton. This altered Mickey’s music direction overnight. He returned to New York with a new guitar style and the trademark Mickey Baker determination.
Mickey Baker became the house guitar man for King Records, Savoy and Atlantic and featured on dozens of hit records, including those with The Drifters, Ivory Joe Hunter, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Little Willie John, Louis Jordan, Ray Charles, Ike & Tina Turner and more.
He penned ‘Love Is Strange’ which was a hit for himself and Sylvia Robinson as Mickey & Sylvia before relocating to France in the mid-60s. In jazz terms he recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Sam The Man Taylor and numerous others.
Rolling Stone magazine listed him at number 53 in the 100 greatest guitarists ever, which is a nonsense. He was much better than that.
In 1999 the Rhythm and Blues Foundation honoured him with a Pioneer Award, placing him alongside Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Ike Turner.
In 1972 he hooked up with Big Bear Records in the UK, playing on many of their shows, recording his ‘Take A Look Inside’ album, and recording on albums with other Big Bear artists including Gene The Mighty Flea Connors and Willie Mabon, also contributing arrangements to recordings by Eddie Guitar Burns and Cousin Joe From New Orleans
He became and remained a close personal friend.
His many guitar tutor books “Complete Course In Jazz Guitar” sell worldwide and have influenced generations of guitarists and have remained in print for over 50 years.
MacHouston Mickey Baker died near Toulouse in France on 27 November aged 87
JIM SIMPSON

Big Bear Music
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B16 8UT, England
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