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

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. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
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).

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.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Trio Riot @ The Bridge Hotel. November 11

Sam Andreae (tenor saxophone), Mette Rasmussen (alto saxophone) & David Meier (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Tenor saxophonist Sam Andreae lives in Macclesfield, alto saxophonist Mette Rasmussen lives in Trondheim and drummer David Meier lives in Zurich. All three get together rarely and on those rare occasions it’s a riot - Trio Riot, you might say.
The Bridge Hotel audience heard composed pieces rehearsed and committed to memory with the trio having some fun on improvised sections, returning to the head and ending on a succession of entertaining stop-time tom foolery.

Lala-Lala (comp. Meier), Bridge Ballad (named on the night – it has a different title each time it is played!) and Da Da Da Da Da Da Da (or something like that) were commendably brief (John Zorn brevity on occasion). Brevity, humour and searing solo work - Rasmussen’s upper register playing a highlight on Guru - characterised an excellent opening set. An improvisation on Joy Division’s Disorder was picked up by a perceptive listener at the beginning of the second set followed by a fast and furious I’m So Glad It Wasn’t Me (comp. Rasmussen). One of the few pieces demanding the dots be read - Bartstock (comp. Meier) - featured the composer and Rasmussen’s alto in a thrilling exchange. Rasmussen’s Candid confirmed first impressions that her alto playing placed her in the premier league of young improvisers.
A good gig courtesy of Splinter and Jazz North East. Next week - Sunday 18th November – Splinter presents the Paul Baxter Quartet. If you like more straight ahead stuff then this is the gig for you (there is a cracking alto player in the band). Make the effort, its just six quid to get in and the beers are tip-top.
Russell               

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