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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Friday on BBC4: Sings the Great American Songbook: 10.30pm

(By Ann Alex) Further to Lance’s note below, I watched this item with great interest.  I don’t imagine that blog readers would enjoy all the versions of the songs, but I have to say that I liked most of them.  I was put off by the first item, Shirley Bassey, who is a bit too dramatic for my taste, but this was followed by some gems from such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett,  tousle-headed Diana Krall, and also Jamie Cullum doing I Get a Kick Out of You, giving the piano a playful kick on the appropriate word. I hadn't realised what a skilled pianist Diana Krall is.  
Many of the performances came from the Jools Holland Late Shows, including Jimmy Scott, aged 80 plus, singing a haunting All Of Me  in an alto voice, which was apparently the result of a genetic condition.  I love the jazz songs about murders, so I enjoyed Kirsty McColl’s rather folksy interpretation of Miss Otis Regrets.  There were also songs from Alison Moyet and Doctor John, and the programme was rounded off by Florence Welch, of pop group Florence and the Machine, doing a very tasty version of My Baby Just Cares for Me.  There was no narration, just notes on screen, giving information about the songs and singers.  It was no surprise that Cole Porter songs were very much in evidence.
BBC Radio 4 Saturday 8pm:  The Devil’s Horn: The Story of the Saxophone:  Narrated by Soweto Kinch
As I was writing the above, this programme came on the radio.  I wasn't able to listen with full attention, but it sounded as if it would be well worth catching on BBC iplayer.  
Ann Alex   

2 comments :

Liz said...

Yes agreed Ann, like you Miss Bassey was not for me, but oh what a joy to see/hear Johnny Mercer performing one of his own compositions, pretty rare I think!

Anonymous said...

Liz, I'm glad someone else enjoyed this, and I forgot to mention the Johnny Mercer item! Ann Alex

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