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.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Big Band Broadcast from 1969.

Peter Drysdale sent me this YouTube clip of  a 1969 big band led by Ronnie Scott and featuring many well known faces.
How many can you recognise?
Lance.

9 comments :

Simon Spillett said...

This is a Granada TV special titled Getting Sentimental Over You, broadcast on Boxing Day 1969 and introduced by Bill Grundy.

The personnel is Greg Bowen, Hank Shaw, Paul Tongay, Jimmy Deuchar (trumpets); Keith Christie, Chris Pyne, Cliff Hardie, unknown (trombone); Derek Humble (alto); Ronnie Scott (tenor); Johnnie Gray (tenor); Ronnie Ross (bari); Gordon Beck (piano); Lennie Bush (bass); Kenny Clare (drums)

Lance said...

Thanks Simon. It has been suggested that the bearded trumpet player is Ian Carr and the unknown trombone player Mike Gibbs and there are resemblances.

Simon Spillett said...

Sorry....yes it's Mike Gibbs and that IS Ian Carr not Hank Shaw. And it's Ronnie Hughes not Paul Tongay.
Tony Coe is also in the saxes.....just looked it up in Crescendo from the time.

Lance said...

Tony Coe? I'd have put my 5 bob each way on Alan Skidmore but I guess the hair was too dark for Skid jr.

Simon Spillett said...

And he's on alto....

Lance said...

Given the talent in the band the solos weren't spread around very much.

Simon Spillett said...

My mate Louis Barfe confirms that it is Ronnie Stephenson on drums not Kenny Clare....

Louis Barfe said...

According to the February 1970 edition of Crescendo, the line-up is Greg Bowen, Ian Carr, Nigel Carter, Jimmy Deuchar (trumpets); Keith Christie, Mike Gibbs, Chris Pyne, Jimmy Wilson (trombones); Derek Humble, Ron Aspery, Ronnie Scott, Johnnie Gray, Ronnie Ross (saxophones); Gordon Beck (piano), Lennie Bush (bass), Ronnie Stephenson (drums).

Meanwhile I've sent the link to the clip to my friend Johnnie Hamp, for many years head of light entertainment at Granada, and got this response:

"You have made my day! Yes indeed it was one of my shows (whoever put it on Youtube cut the credits!) and I must confess I was being completely self indulgent. A slot became suddenly available for transmission on Boxing day 1969 and I was asked to fill it with whatever I liked. So within a week I put together this bunch of good mates, got together with Bill Grundy to write a script and recorded The Big Band Sound. In addition to the artistes you mention we featured Vince Hill and the wonderful Dickie Valentine (with Mike Parkinson and Irma Ogden looking on!). Ted Heath had just died so Part Two was devoted to his music. In those days no Auto-cue or multitrack recording either! Magic!"

Harry Monty said...

Hi Lance,

What a terrific programme and such a delight to see so many great musicians in their heyday.

Best regards

Harry Monty

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