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.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Alan Glen @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond.

Alan Glen (pno); Paul Susans (bs); Paul Wight (dms).
(Review by Lance)
You wait months for an Alan Glen gig and then three come along at once!
The first one at "The Chilli" on March 5 was reviewed by Russell - follow link. The third one is on Saturday night at the Jazz Café and, in between, we had tonight at the Cherry Tree.
There are literally thousands of tunes in the GAsbook and I swear that Alan Glen knows every one of them!
Tonight's starter was You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to followed by Days of Wine and Roses or, in my case, a bottle of Black Sheep and the Lincolnshire Poacher and Early Wild Garlic Soufflé. I now know the meaning of Shangri-la!
I Remember You, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, How About You? and Roast Chicken Breast, Fricassee of New Spring Vegetables, Turned New Potatoes & Red Wine Jus combined to make this an unforgettable experience.
Follow this with Laura, My Funny Valentine, Take the A Train, Satin Doll, It Don't Mean a Thing and Strawberry & Pistachio Cheesecake, Orange Chantilly and confusion reigns - am I in Jesmond or have I gone to Heaven?
Pauls Susans and Wight provide the salt, pepper and gravy to the main course. Flavouring it subtly and unintrusively.
Alan Glen has been referred to as "The pianist's pianist" - this indicates some form of elitism. Personally, I prefer the old adage, Man here plays mighty fine piano!
Don't forget they do it all again on Saturday night (March 29) at the Jazz Café.
Next Monday at the Cherry Tree it's Djangologie. Mais Oui!
Lance. 

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