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.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Teddy Wilson in Newcastle

Anyone at this concert in 1953? And who were the members of the Alan Nicholson Swingtette? All of this for half a crown - 12½p!
Lance.
Photo on the right from Edinburgh jazz festival,

6 comments :

Tom Henderson (on F/b) said...

Hi Lance,I'm sure i was at this concert with a drummer mate of mine & Alan Nicholsons Swingtette probably had his brother Billy on trumpet but i can't remember the rest of the group.

Derek Lambert (on F/b) said...

Listen to him with Pres., wonderful pianist.

Tom Henderson (on F/b) said...

Just been listening to him with the Benny Goodman Quartet, Great!

Lance said...

I remember the concert but, because I had school the next day, my parents wouldn't let me go. I did however, hear Teddy with Dave Shepherd at Edinburgh in the early '80s and he was superb.

Steve Andrews (on F/b) said...

The late Mick Potts of the Gateway Jazzband told me that Teddy always stayed with him when he played Carlisle. Like Mick, Teddy was fond of a tipple. Apparently, without fail, the household would be awakened by a crash in the middle of the night when Teddy fell out of bed, loaded, although he couldn't remember anything about it the next day. I, too, saw Teddy at the Dragonara Hotel in Edinburgh in the early 1980's, playing as immaculately as ever.

Lance said...

The future award winning film directer Mike Figgis was a regular customer when I worked in JG Windows music shop. His father was a big jazz fan and he had, I knew, a pile somewhere out west. Figgis senior came into Windows one day and said "I'm throwing a party on Saturday night. Teddy Wilson will be playing. Do come along." It was only after he'd left that I realised I hadn't a clue where he lived! and so I never got to actually meet Teddy Wilson.

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