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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Sunday, November 09, 2014

The Virtuoso Jazz Trio @ Ashington Jazz Club. Nov. 5

George MacDonald (clt); James Birkett (gtr); Tony Abell (bs).
(Review by Peter S.)
Last month AJC experienced the power and excitement of the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band. This month we returned to an appreciation of small group Jazz. The Virtuoso Trio visited to give our audience a musical masterclass. Led by George MacDonald on clarinet with outstanding support from James Birkett and Tony Abell  we experienced  the joyful compositions of George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, George Shearing, Jobim, Gilberto, Fats Waller and more. 
The musical cocktail was a delight and I’m convinced that B.G. and Charlie Christian would have been proud of this performance. This collaboration was also very reminiscent of the 1952 partnership of Stan Getz and Johnny Smith recordings in my personal library. The audience listened and applauded in admiration at the instrumental skills of our guests. There were occasions when you could have heard a pin drop and it was obvious that we were all having a wonderful evening with octogenarian George, Jim and Tony. The joy of working with each other as the exchanges between them were so obvious. Mr. MacDonald’s introductions were also interesting with humour. Long may they continue giving audiences the flavours of this Jazz genre .
Programme:- But Not For Me, Somebody Loves Me, Lady be Good, In a Mellow Tone, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, It Don’t Mean a Thing, One Note Samba, Night and Day, I Got Rhythm, Margie, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stomping at the Savoy, Airmail Special , Flying Home, Skylark, After You’ve Gone, Lullaby of Birdland, The Girl From Ipanema.
Peter S.
Christmas Event.
Meeting at the Elephant – Wednesday 3rd. Dec. at 8.00 p.m. Gypsy Jazz with Caroline.

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