Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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

Monday, August 19, 2013

LP Review: Michael Garrick Sextet - Prelude to Heart is a Lotus.

Michael Garrick (pno/harpsichord/celeste); Ian Carr (tpt); Don Rendell (alt/sop/fl); Jim Phillips (fl/ten?); Coleridge Goode (bs); Trevor Tompkins (perc.) - 1968.
(Review by Lance)
Gearbox records are a class act presenting previously unheard recordings on quality vinyl. This has to be one of the most precious.
The Michael Garrick Sextet have long held a justifiably revered position in the annals of British jazz and this release goes a long way to explaining the reason why.
In 1970 Garrick recorded The Heart is a Lotus with Norma Winstone, it was released on Argo. Prelude to Heart is a Lotus, recorded two years earlier for a BBC radio broadcast, has never been available until now,
All compositions are by Garrick who sadly died in November 2011.
They are cracking pieces and show everyone off to advantage including the mystery tenor man on Sweet and Sugary Candy. He's not listed on the sleeve and it's not Don Rendell as the tenor can be heard riffing behind Rendell's soprano. I guess it's Jim Phillip although the album details only list him as being on flute.
Carr shines throughout, mainly muted, with suggestions of Miles. Goode does his Slam Stewart bowed vocal impression and the leader plays two fisted piano. Oh yes and Tompkins kicks it along like a contemporary George Wettling.
On Webster's Mood - Rendell is listed as playing alto although it does have a tenor sound. He switches to flute for Song by the Sea. Temple Dancer has some exotic wailing by the horns and suitably Asian sounds come from the rhythm section.
Little Girl is quite beautiful painting a rich tapestry of harmonic colour. Carr is at his most Milesian here. Rendell lyricises  on soprano over Goode's bass.
I'm not sure if something recorded in 1968 qualifies as my record of the year but if it does it's a front runner.
The analogue vinyl sound is far superior to the average CD and isn't it wonderful to be able to read album notes without a magnifying glass?
Lance.
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1 comment :

Lance said...

It is reported that this LP, in the space of a few days, has become Gearbox's best selling album and a second pressing may be imminent.
Justifiably so.

Friday, August 23, 2013 10:14:00 pm

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