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

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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.

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Tomorrow Night - a reminder from JNE

Jazz North East presents
GREG ABATE with the PAUL EDIS TRIO
Greg Abate (saxes); Paul Edis (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Adam Sinclair (drums)
Wednesday 6th November | 8.00pm
Literary & Philosophical Society | 23 Westgate Road | Newcastle NE1 1SE
Tickets £10.00 | £8.00 concessions from 0191 232 0192
Contrary to the impression that 'Jazz Alert' may have occasionally given, I love bebop. But I've tried not to let my musical tastes to atrophy around 1960, and I'm not enthusiastic about slavish recreations of the style from which so much exciting music has subsequently evolved.
But "slavish recreation" is not a charge that could be levelled at American saxophonist Greg Abate, who on his two previous visits to Tyneside has delivered what the Penguin Guide to Jazz calls "top-notch bebop played with enthusiasm and without waste". His understanding of the musical language is profound and passionate, but he uses that language to spin entirely original jazz narratives without any of the self conscious retro trappings that you get with some other contemporary bop adherents. This is excellent music, excellently played, and really what more could you ask?
Travelling soloists like Abate are rather at the mercy of local support, and over the years I've heard some horror stories about wooden rhythm sections acting more as a drag than as an inspiration. But the Paul Edis Trio backed Greg at his first Tyneside gig, and he subsequently told his agent that it was the best group he'd worked with anywhere in the UK. It's a superb musical marriage - I urge you not to miss it.   
Paul Bream.

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