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, July 08, 2015

Jam Session @ The Jazz Café - July 7.

Alan Law (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms); Bradley Johnston (gtr) + Paul Gowland (alt); Stu Finden (ten); Fiona Finden (sop/vcl); Dave Parker (bs); Tom Lapworth (gtr); Francesco Falconi (pno); Eric Stutt, Matt MacKellar, Rob Bates (dms); Joe Fowler (tmb/vcl); Minnie Fraser (vcl) etc.
(Review by Lance).
There is no Greater Love - if Alan Law never plays a better solo than this his living will have not been in vain - and this was but the opening number! The Lawman was on fire tonight - Cuban Fire I suspect!
Bradley Johnston, inspired by his visit to Le Festival Django Reinhardt de Samois (tee shirt to prove it), lit a few beacons himself. Unsurprisingly, Nuages being one of them!
Paul Gowland took centre stage for Confirmation - crisp brushwork from Wight - and Autumn in New York.
A contingent from the Jazz Coop dropped by and soon Dave Parker was on bass, a change of pianist (no name given - George, see comment,) and Minnie on mic. Song for my Father was the chosen opus but, sadly, the mic volume was too low too enable Min to be heard above the band and the conversation from the bottom end of the bar.
The Findens took over with Eric Stutt on drums and Fiona, unfortunately, also fought a losing battle with the sound system.
And so the night rolled on Falconi, Lapworth and an endless stream of drummers came and went. Joe Fowler finally conquered the mic with a blues blasting belter on Ramsey Lewis's The In Crowd. Both singing and sliding, the Bossman was on form.
Dawn Furness and Ian Forbes were standing in the wings but it was time for me to be one of the 'Out Crowd' so I missed the finale to another jolly jam at the JayCee.
Lance
PS: More photos.

1 comment :

Minnie said...

The nameless pianist is George Any who now plays with the Blue Jazz Sextet.

Blog Archive