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.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Pilgrim St. Set @ Hoochie Coochie - May 14.

Richard Burns (tpt); Gary Turner (ten); Paul Edis (keys); Paul Susans (bs); Rob Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance).
It was during the soundcheck that 'roo trumpet player Richard and owner Warren exchanged comments.
"We could put a mic on the drums" said Richard.
Warren's reply was straight out of Ladies Home Journal (not!) 
Fortunately, at the time, Hoochie had only as many bums on seats as the Green Party - i.e. mine!
However, by the time they hit the deck running, the Lib Dems had been overtaken and the SNP was in sight!
Rob is arguably the best drummer on Tyneside and, unarguably, the loudest! Richard, found this out after stuffing a Harmon (trumpet mute) into the bell for the opening number - great drum solo.
Gary fought fire with fire and soon Rob was the one struggling to be heard!
However, come the second number, the Harmon was relegated to the back bench, the balance sorted and it was game on!
This was a Gary original that was, maybe, called Amarillo, Armadillo or I'm a Gorilla depending on how well you speak Australian. What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name etc...
As befits the composer of the tune Gary batted first - if Kevin Pieterson played tenor as opposed to cricket this would have been him in full flight and selection guaranteed.
Progress, by Richard had a great Jazz Messengers feel about it and Paul Susans impressed.
By way of interest, the whole rhythm section was Triptych who play at the Lit and Phil next Friday lunchtime (May 22) and at the Gala theatre, Durham today (May 15, 1pm.).
Paul Edis' We Get Along. Paul was introduced as "our keyboard player - we used to say pianist or piano man" I like the Aussie humour and indeed the trumpet playing.
And so the evening unfolded. Each number better than the last but not as good as the next one.
Even Happy Birthday sounded good.
The Pilgrim Street Set? It should be the Frith Street Set!
Catch them again on June 11.
Lance.

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