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.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

The Kings of Swing @ Sage Gateshead June 20.

Paul Pashley, Tony Benedict, Mark Porter (vcls); Paul Francis (pno); Paul Francis (pno/MD); + Wilkinson (alt); Steve Black (ten); Gilhouse ( bar), Benny Lake (vcl/tpt), Adrian (tpt), Stuart ( tmb); Harrison Wood (bass); Bill Johnson (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Apart from the singers, the rest of the names are pure guesswork based on the announcements heard over the rapturous applause from the three quarters full level one of Hall One at Sage Gateshead.
It was well deserved applause from the mixed age audience (the younger ones may have been there as carers, minders, chauffeurs gigolos etc.) and we got the full canon of the usual suspects ie Sinatra, Bennett, Dean, Darin, Bublé et al.
In many ways it was like the recent City Hall concert by Jason Isaacs except that on that occasion the band was bigger and the singer taller although the repertoire, needless to say, overlapped by about 90%.
The three singers tonight (four if you include trumpeter Benny who sang Gigolo/Ain't Got Nobody à la Louis Prima quite brilliantly) were on form - by the end of the evening I was confused as to who was who and which one sang what  it didn't matter, they were all great and put on a terrific show.
Solowise both tenor and trumpet hit pay dirt on their limited exposure.
To give you an idea as to just how good this concert was, it was almost as good as the Jason Isaacs concert!
Almost!
I wouldn't have missed either
Check them out here or at a theatre near you!
Lance.
PS: If anyone can fill in the band names for me I'd appreciate it.

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