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.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Sid Scott Orchestra @ The Bridge Hotel. September 28

Ray Truscott (electric bass), Paul Gowland (tenor & alto saxophones, synthesizer) & Paul Wight (drums)
(Review by Russell).
Sid couldn’t make the gig with HMRC on his trail. The other Sids did make it. Confused? You will be. The ‘orchestra’ packed a punch. The massed ranks of the sections distilled, a familiar-looking trio took to the floor promising/threatening Weather Report stadium-gig power in the upstairs room at the Bridge Hotel. Those in the know took back row seats.
Jack and Joe gave a clue as what to expect from Sid & co. Jaco Pastorius (Jack) and Joe Zawinul (Joe) featured prominently during the evening. Six string Ray Truscott revisited seventies electric bass playing territory, a synthesized Paul Gowland blew torrents (tenor and alto) and added something Zawinul-like at a lap-topped keyboard.
Meanwhile, Sid (too many Sids in this band) kicked seven shades out of his kit, giving a power-drumming masterclass endorsed by Mahavishnu Billy Cobham. Sid, the drummer (aka Paul Wight) did use brushes as and when, and the set-list did allow some relief from a Weather Report-style power-feast. The rather incongruous Bossamba made way for a tune inspired by Mingus with the catchy title Pass the Hat Charlie Someone Stole the Pie. The naming of tunes prosaic, none more so than Thanks John (Coltrane), paid homage with an element of My Favourite Things and it wasn’t such a stretch to hear Giant Steps. Sid likes Miles, Four Miles took us close to Seven Steps to Heaven.
The Sid Scott Orchestra is a work in progress; retro, respectful, searching. A Jazz Co-op gig at the Globe is in the diary, get along to follow the progress of Sid, Sid and PG.
Russell.

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