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

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.

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Best Jazz Read of the Year: McPartland v Burton

Any of our readers who follow "The Sport of Kings" as well as the Music of Kings (and Dukes, Counts Earls and other nobility) will know the feeling. Your horse is ten lengths clear going into the final furlong and already you're visualising how to spend the untold riches that your 50p stake has brought you until, suddenly, from out of nowhere a bay gelding bursts from the pack and is soon neck and neck with your thoroughbred. The winning post draws closer, you close your eyes and...
Well that is how it was for me regarding my Best Jazz Read of the Year. Paul de Barros' biography (written in conjunction with) of Marian McPartland Shall We Play That One Together? was odds on favourite and looked to be running out an easy winner.
It's a great book and one that deserves a place on anyone's jazz bookshelf. However, an unexpected Christmas present brought in a ringer in the form of Learning to Listen: The Jazz journey of Gary Burton. I've yet to finish it but I'm devouring up the furlongs (sorry chapters) and it's anybody's race.
Marian talks candidly about her affair with drummer Joe Morello whilst Burton speaks openly about his agonising search to discover his sexuality before "coming out".
Personal issues aside, they both give revealing insights into musicians they've worked with, and admired or, in some cases, not admired. Burton in particular writes about Shearing, Getz, Davis, Ellington, Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton and others - warts and all!
McPartland is possibly kinder, or maybe her biographer made it seem so. Certainly De Barros portrays this graceful lady as not always so graceful.
The winning post is in sight and a photo finish is certain although, on photos, Burton gets the nod.
Lance.
Shall We Play That One Together? Paul de Barros: St. Martin's Press 2012.
Learning to Listen: The Jazz Journey of Gary Burton. Gary Burton: berklee press 2013.

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive