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

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Jazz Café Jam Session - Nov. 3

Steve Glendinning (gtr); Stu Finden (bs); Paul Wight (dms/vcl) + Fiona Finden (vcl); Marek Podstawek (dms/vcl/melodica); Matthew MacKellar (dms); Dawn Furness (pno/vcl); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Bob Smeaton (pno); John Pope (bs).
(Review by Lance)
Tonight jazz lived up to Whitney Balliett's oft quoted description as The Sound of Surprise. There were a few!
It all began quite sedately with a different house trio to that of recent weeks. Not that this was a Capital Cup selection, Glendinning, Wight and saxophonist Stu (on bass this week) all ace players.
All Blues; Stella by Starlight; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; All the Things You Are set the scene for Fiona to chant What is This Thing Called Love and You Don't Know What Love is. Also on stage was a different drummer who knew a thing or two. This was Marek Podstawek a Polish musician, living in Australia but passing through Newcastle, check him out playing drums on YouTube  and on keyboards
Young Matt MacKellar took over on drums for Four and Triste but our Polish visiter wasn't done yet!
With Dawn Furness occupying the piano stool he joined in on melodica for Night and Day then an amazing vocal chorus or two on the same tune. This incorporated a scatting blast - at least I think it was scat, it may have been Polish! Multi talented guy.
More talent when Bradley took over on guitar for Have You Met Miss Jones; Wave and Things Ain't What They Used to be.
More surprises. A new pianist - new to Newcastle that is - Bob Smeaton from York. Liz, our lady in York tells me Bob is a friend of her brother, guitarist Ron Goodall. Wish I'd had the opportunity to chat with him. When I heard the traditional piano intro to Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares For me I wondered who was going sing it. Paul Wight, no less! He did good! As did Bob on piano. Fiona returned for a blast on Bernie's Tune, Dawn sang Bye Bye Blackbird and John Pope went on bass for Beautiful Love and I went for the bus - no reflection on the music.
Another amazing evening!
Photos.
Lance.

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