Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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.

Sat 03: New Orleans Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Gavin Lee & co.
Sat 03: Anemone Quartet + Jeepe Zeeburg @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Caravan. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 03: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Free. Excellent blues band.
Sat 03: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.50 (inc. bf). Two sets: 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. ‘Swing Band Dance Night’.
Sat 03: Olie Brice Quartet + Alexander Hawkins + Harper Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Paul Skerritt Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 8:00pm. Free.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Heugh Battery, Hartlepool. 11:00am-12 noon & 1:00-2:00pm.
Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 04: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Bill Watson (trumpet).
Sun 04: Sax Choir w. Rachel Musson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Rivkala + Ceitidh Mac + Thatcher & Knowles @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. A NFOJAIM event.
Sun 04: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED from September 27.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Listening to Louis on Radio 2

Listening to the BBC archive recording of Humph and Wynton Marsalis talking about Louis Armstrong.
Very interesting. they also pose the question of favourite Louis recordings. so here are mine.
Hot Five: Cornet Chop Suey. This told me he could get around the horn. (I was 15 year old playing 3rd cornet in a brass band and it hit me that this guy could carve our solo cornet with ease!).
Interestingly, Humph and Wynton talk about South Shields cornet maestro George Swift who died in 1985. One wonders if jazz really began in South Shields?
Orchestra: Swing That Music. Now on trumpet and singing, this was, for me, the best of the often maligned big band recordings.
All Stars (Teagarden): The New York Town Hall Concert the gig that told the world that Louis was back in Jazzland.
All Stars (Trummy): Satch Plays W.C. Handy. Possibly the greatest version of St. Louis Blues ever!
Vocal: A Kiss to Build a Dream on can't be beat.
Maybe you'd like to suggest some of yours.
Lance.
Available here for 7 days.

4 comments :

Roly said...

My favourite, among all the gems, is the 1928 duet with Earl Hines 'Weather Bird'. Other favourites - Savoy Blues 1927 with the great Lonnie Johnson. 1947 All Stars with Teagarden 'Stars Fell on Alabama' possibly one of the most moving tracks in all of jazz?

Miles said...

Hi Lance yes I heard it, it was great, as for favourites where do I start he never made a bad record.
Hotter Than That - Hot Five with Lonnie Johnson.
Jack Armstrong Blues - All Stars with Jack Teagarden.
When You're Smiling - Autobiography LP. (Reserved for my funeral.)
Stars Fell On Alabama - Ella & Louis.
What A Wonderful World - Even as an old man still turning dross into gold.

CCJAZZMEN said...

Hi Lance, now this is a hard one so much good stuff out there.

1) Cornet Chop Suey (Rec 1926) (The Hot Five)
This is a recording that any young aspiring jazz trumpet player should listen and learn from, it's all there, and Louis way ahead of his time, no one else was playing like this at that time.

2) When Your Smiling (Rec 1929) (His Orchestra)
Once again Louis playing things here, that no one else was doing, that last chorus out, where he is playing those fat top E's and holding the melody up an octave, is difficult to sustain to this day.

3) Back O'Town Blues (Rec 1947) (The All Stars)
From the town hall concerts, with Jack Teagarden, this recording reminds me so much of some of the things I have to deal with at Ned Kelly's, just listen to how Louis put's the heckler in his place, (Shut Up "Boy") absolute magic, plus a great vocal from Louis, wonderful atmosphere and fun.

4) Ella & Louis (Rec 1956)
This is a wonderful album, and sounds as fresh today, as if it was recorded just recently, two of the top entertainers of their time, and a great rhythm section with Oscar Peterson.

5) For this Lance I agree with you,for his output in the 1960's, I would have to go with Give Me A Kiss to Build A Dream On, this and What A Wonderful World are still very popular in Hong Kong with many young people, and every night we get requests for both, but for me it is A Kiss To Build A Dream On.

Colin Aitchison
Bandleader
Ned Kelly's Last Stand
Hong Kong.

DAVE kERR said...

Hi Lance,
It is very difficult to make a choice but probably my favourite solo is the two twelve bar choruses in Savoy Blues recorded late at night after presumably a long night playing a gig.
Also do not overlook his early efforts with Fletcher Henderson he plays a wonderful solo on Why Couldn't It Be Poor little Me.
From the 193O's his huge out put makes it almost impossible to select but I always loved the relaxed playing on Song Of The Islands.

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