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, June 03, 2015

Jazz Café Jam - June 2.

(Review by Lance)
The listing below is from memory - In my rush to catch the 22:57 Metro and to savour the last few bars of whatever it was they were blowing, I left my notepad behind me so I'm busking this one!
However, like all jams at "The Caff", it was memorable enough for me to be able to paint the scene despite, at times, the stage area being more populated than the Central Station. Instruments at the ready, they awaited the call.
The house quartet  gave a Wave  before we were off to The Sunny Side of the Street. Ray Johnson, having drove both trumpet and flugel down from Rothbury leaped in - somewhat prematurely! However, afterwards he produced a couple of interesting charts that had everyone on their metal, none more so than Bradley Johnston who was dealt a Bb part!
Brown Junior took over on piano, Brown Senior spelled Grainger on bass, the not yet departed for Japan Yuya, sat in on drums on drums and Tom Lapworth moved in on guitar for A Night in Tunisia.
More comings and goings.
Falconi stepped up to the keyboard.  When the Signor from Sienna (or wherever!) goes into play mode not only do you get the jazz but you get all the emotions too. This is a soul in torment searching for freedom his body language, the facial expressions are those of a man on a mission - is it the lost chord, the holy grail or the secrets of the universe? Whatever, when he finds it his face erupts into a smile of satisfaction.
And so the drama unfolded - drummers and guitarists galore! Saxophones to the fore, Musos from out of the area, even one from Bulgaria, Japan and Italy, Jesmond and Whitley it all happened here tonight!
Lance.
Jazz Café photos.
Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Paul Wight (dms) + Ray Johnson (tpt); Joel Brown (pno); 'Papa' Brown (bs); Tom Lapworth (gtr)' Yuya Honami (dms); Francesco Falconi (pno); Rob Bates (dms); Thanos (gtr); Dan Foote (dms); Jordan Alfonso (alt); Paul Gowland (alt); Nick Gould (ten); Dimi (dms); Ian Forbes (dms); John Pope (bs) - there may have been others, apologies if I've missed you.

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