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.

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Claire Kelly Trio – Salsa Café November 30.

Claire Kelly (Vocal)  Mark Williams (Guitar) John Pope (D Bass)
(Review by Kath Jobes).
Claire has been absent from the jazz scene for some time, but appears to be on good form now she is back for a short while before she heads off travelling to foreign lands.  She introduced the band as the ‘the lovely Mark Williams’ and ‘THEE Pope’ and set away on a pleasant evening of ‘dinner Jazz’ with a quiet and gentle version of You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, followed by Some Of My Best Friends Are Blues, with simply splendid solos from the boys… and I would expect nothing less from these accomplished musicians.  Claire certainly hit her ‘lucky Star’ with Mr Ugly and Morning as she gently moved on to Masquerade, some Beautiful Love and ended the set on Like Someone in Love.  A lovely mellow start to the evening, as I ate a superb dinner with jazz friends and it’s great to see a growing audience of Jazz regulars at the Salsa Café. 
Set two gave us water to drink with Agua de Beber, and Claire simply sparkled as she sang a happy blues number – The Blues Are Out of Town, with yet more skilful solos from Mark Williams and Thee Pope.  No Moon At All was exquisite and Day In Day Out again displayed the lightning fast fingers of Mr Williams at his best.  Johnny Dankworth’s blues number Unlucky Woman  hit the spot, but Everybody Wants to be A Cat from the Aristocrats brought back nice childhood memories as we were moved on to Love and Let’s Slip Away
We were then given a rare treat as Lindsay Hannon took to the stage and sang  But Beautiful… and it really was… I’m so looking forward to seeing her next Friday at No 28!  The last number of the night was another delight... away from the usual Jazz… the bonus of an Artic Monkeys number – When the Sun Goes Down… well sadly the sun did go down and the night came to an agreeable close…
If you missed it.. Claire is singing at Pizza Express on New Year’s Eve… and if you are looking for something to do on a Sunday Afternoon, there will be a regular Jam Session starting up at Salsa Café from Sunday December 8 – 3pm ‘til 7… bring your instruments and come along for a play or have a sing or if you don’t do either come for a listen, great jazz, lovely atmosphere, sumptuous food, plentiful drink and great staff and company… what more could you ask for? 
Kath J.

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