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.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Double Hat Trick for Summers - Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Black Swan Arts Centre, Newcastle. Day One - Dec. 18

(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
The SSBB's Christmas session at the Black Swan Arts Centre is now so much a 'must have ticket' event that, this year, they extended it to two nights and still the tickets flew. Given the time of year it wasn't surprising that there was much Christmas Fayre on the musical menu but, rather than take away the sound of surprise for tonight's audience I won't give away the set list secrets save to say that some were predictable and some certainly weren't!
Lead alto Steve Summers, sporting a hat as distinctive as Lester Young's pork pie titfer, feared leader Lamb wouldn't countenance the wearing of such an outré object beyond the first bar let alone the first set! However, the spirit of Christmas was in evidence and the hat remained atop the good doctor's head for the complete session! It certainly didn't effect his playing, in particular the alto joust with Keith Robinson on one seasonal journey.
Steve was also involved in the opening tear up with Gowland and Toms - truly a triumvirate of majestic men from the east (a clue to the tune!)
Lamb and Tanton took care of the trumpet solos whilst Parnaby handled the trombone chores with much aplomb. 
Pawel featured prominently and Don, Whent and Swinton also had memorable moments.
Lindsay and F'reez struggled to be heard in their opening numbers but eventually the balance evened out and they were, as always, in good voice.
Maybe next year it will be 3 nights!
Lance.
Michael Lamb (tpt/flug/md); Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (tpt/flug); Kieran Parnaby, John Flood, Mark Ferris, David Barnes (tmb); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Graham Don (pno); Michael Whent (bs); Pawel Jedrzejewski (gtr); Guy Swinton (dms/mc); Lindsay Hannon, F'reez (vcls).

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