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.

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Jammin' @ The Caff - March 3

Peter Gilligan (pno); James Robson (bs); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Paul Wight (dms) + Joe Fowler, David Gray (tmb); Paul Gowland, Jordan Alfonso (alt); Alexis Cairns (ten); Sylvie Heath (fl); Tom Lapworth (gtr); Yuya Honami, Ian Forbes, James Carmichael (dms); Kathryn Lowdon (vcl); Francisco ? (pno).
(Review by Lance).
As the above roll of Honour indicates this was quite a night! Close your eyes and it was easy to imagine you were at a 1940s JATP gig in downtown Los Angeles rather than a 2015 jam in downtown Newcastle 
The house quartet set the mood with Things Ain't What They Used to be, Wave and that always delightful jazz waltz Bluesette.
Joe Fowler slided God Bless the Child before being joined by Hogwarts graduate David Gray for a trombone joust on Hallelujah I Just Love Him/Her So. Big Joe's vocal tipped the scales.
David stayed aboard for the triple titled Theme from Black Orpheus - nice bass playing from dep bassman Robson.
A pause whilst the kit was adjusted to suit the non southpaw stickmen, who were queing up in an orderly fashion, then we were off to the races.
Paul Gowland - on alto tonight - and Yuya Honami - on drums - were Alone Together and then, and then, and then... a Scrapple From The Apple to end all Scrapples!
First Bradley set the pace with Pete, James and Paul in hot pursuit until, in the final furlong, an explosive burst by Yuya made it a photo finish and the winner was - The audience!
Alexis Cairns with Tom Lapworth and Ian Forbes bid Bye Bye to a Blackbird - great Gilligan double time chorus - and trombone wizard Gray returned for Ain't Misbehavin'.
Sylvie Heath, even unmiked, had nice moments on flute by which time Jordan, James Carmichael and Francisco had joined her on Little Sunflower and All of Me (we want More of You!)
Gowland came back for Stella and just about everyone seemed to be up for Stormy Monday with a belting vocal by "T-Bone" Lowdon.
Lance.
(Apologies for crap photo!)

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