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

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.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Friday, March 08, 2013

Safe Sextet @ Hoochie Coochie. March 7.

Don Forbes (tpt); Paul Gowland (alt); John Rowland (ten); Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms).
(Review by Lance)
The Safe Sextet - once part of the Friday night furniture at the Jazz Café were fortunately overlooked by the Miller removal men on Wednesday so they will not be up for auction at the Sale Rooms.
This is a shame as, after tonight's performance, the bidding would be intense!
Wayne Shorter's One by One made for a rousing opener. Forbes' references to Cilla Black when announcing Rollins' Alfie's Tune probably meant little to the youngish audience although Rowland's Rollins-like cadenza of an intro certainly caught the attention of at least one of the older members of the audience (me). Gowland caught the ball running and easily converted Rowland's try.
Gershwin's Soon is a great arrangement - I wonder who did it? - with super solos all round. A Latin number brought a couple of dancers to the floor elegantly  tripping the light fantastic.
Blakey's Moanin' gave new drummer Armstrong a chance  to shine which he duly did but it was Gilligan who gave it the polish both soloing and 'comping.
The Emcee Five's The One That Got Away could have been tailor made for this group and Don and his "boys" did it justice. Come to think of it - The Safe Sextet is close to being a reincarnation of the Emcee Five and in the north east there is no higher accolade available.
Photos.
Lance.

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