Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18445 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 309 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 20 ) 43,

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

April

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Fri 24: Noel Dennis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. Dennis, Mark Willams, Andy Champion. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Trio Grand @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Ben Vince + The Exu @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £14.33., £11.16, £8.00. A ‘jazz adjacent’ gig!
Fri 24: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £13.20 (inc. bf).
Fri 24: TBC @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm.

Sat 25: Giles Strong Quartet @ Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Sat 25: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ The Old Cinema Launderette, Durham. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf).
Sat 25: ‘Portrait in Evans’: Noa Levy & Alan Barnes w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £24.00. Sage Two. ‘Portrait in Evans’. Levy, Barnes, Edis, Andy Champion & Steve Hanley.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Ni Maxine + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sun 26: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 26: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00., £7.00.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 27: House of Blues @ the Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £7.00., £5.00. advance. A student-led jazz session. ‘House of Blues’ is, perhaps, a misnomer.
Mon 27: Littlewood Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00 + bf, £7.00. + bf.

Tue 28: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

RIP Jim Hall (1930-2013)

The word is that one of the world's greatest jazz guitarists, Jim Hall, passed away in his sleep early this morning. I haven't had absolute confirmation but I think the source is reliable. How sad is this and how sudden?
Less than a fortnight ago Mike Papapavlou reported on the awesome experience of hearing Jim Hall in New York and now he's gone.
It was back in the 1960s when I heard Jim Hall as part of the Jimmy Giuffre Trio in a JATP package at Newcastle City Hall. Such a cool, laid back player. Years later, Roly Veitch introduced me to the Jim Hall/Paul Desmond sides and in between I'd heard Hall on Sonny Rollins' legendary LP The Bridge.
Guitar playing of the highest quality.
I'm hoping my information is wrong but, somehow, I know it isn't.
The jazz world and the guitar world has lost a giant.
Jim Hall was 83.
Sadly missed.

6 comments :

Liz said...

he was one of my late dad's favourites

Lance said...

And your brothers too I would guess!

Roly Veitch said...

This is such sad news and despite his advancing years a big shock as Jim was active and playing as well as ever till very recently. I'm one of the many, many jazz guitarists who absolutely love his playing. From his early recordings with Giuffre then Desmond it was clear here was someone rather different with a thoughtful style, an intent listener to those around him, a harmonic master and a lyrical soloist for whom a sense of form and the innate beauty in his work, seemed so natural. His subsequent career is well documented – the iconic album with Rollins, the sublime duo pairing with Bill Evans, the 'Alone Together' duo with bassist Ron Carter, and his work many other jazz legends. I particularly love his trio and quartet albums – 'All across the city' and 'Circles'.
Jim Hall influenced countless jazz guitarists some who have become icons in their own right yet somehow he remained very different, a totally unique player who graced everything in music he was involved with and who must surely be ranked not only among the all time greats of jazz guitar but more than that, one of the truly great jazz musicians across the entire history of the music.

John Forster (on f/b) said...

That's a great shame.one of the masters.

Jim Douglas said...

To my mind Jim Hall was the gentle giant of jazz guitar. His tone was quiet and soft and lulled you into the false belief that he wasn’t really doing very much until you tried to copy his runs, licks and chording. It was then you realised that this was no ordinary player and any complacency on your part was immediately replaced by feelings of inadequacy and awe. From his insistent rhythmic accompaniment with Jimmy Giuffre and Bob Brookmeyer, his exciting duets with Jimmy Raney and his superb album with the wonderful Carl Perkins on piano, to his tasteful solo performances, Hall has left an unequalled legacy of excellence. My particular favourite performances are his solo on “Deep in a Dream” on the aforementioned album and his playing throughout “In the Wee Small Hours” with Gerry Mulligan. I caught him once in London and came away spellbound and inspired in the same way I would have been if he had been Django Reinhardt or Charlie Christian. High praise indeed but totally deserved. The news of his death has shocked and saddened me immeasurably.
Jim Douglas

Lance said...

"Crazy He Calls Me" from the Giuffre Trio is the one that does it for me.

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