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

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

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.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Sunday, June 09, 2013

CD Review: Rik Harris Group - Errands.


Ric Harris (gtr); Micah Rutschman (vbs); Mason Cormie (bs); Tom Haugen (perc) + Daniela Bisenius (vln); Jack Scott (fl).
(Review by Lance).
Beautiful - a breath of fresh air amid some of the current sounds that are passed off as jazz. Reminiscent of the MJQ but with the feel of today about it I simply adored this.
Rutschman on vibes hits the perfect medium between the richness of Hampton and the sometimes "milk bottle"sound of Jackson. Harris is ahead of the game both as player and composer and is ably supported by Cormie and Haugen. Here's a YouTube clip of the vibists New York Uni Audition for his Jazz Masters Vibraphone degree.
You want icing on this cake that's already bursting with rich flavour? Then you got it in the form of the two guests.
Romanian born Bisenius has plenty of ethnic roots in her music but they don't dilute her jazz playing - if anything, they enhance it. Listen to her here.
Jack Scott's flute fits perfectly - he deserves to be better known. Here he is.
Overall, the pieces on the disc are intended to be mentally visual portraits - maybe they is, maybe they ain't but I'll go along with it.
I want to watch water flowing down Willoway Brook, drink a beer in The Brass Monkey - a corner bar that no one tells their friends about - visit The Pellikan in Prague and so on.
You can do all this and more by listening to Errands.
Rik Harris Group - Errands is now available on RTH Records.
Lance.

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