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, February 27, 2016

The Riviera Quartet @ The Jazz Café - Feb. 26

Pete Tanton (tpt/flug); Mark Williams (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms).
(Review by Lance).
A rare appearance by the newly titled Riviera Quartet drew a goodly throng to Pink Lane and they weren't disappointed. 
It was a special treat to hear the American trumpet/flugel horn player soloing at length as opposed to the shorter blasts he's allotted with SSBB.  Flowing, lyrical lines; melodic, but with a cutting edge. On guitar, Williams was in overdrive. Woodstock revisited. Hendrix, Clapton, Metheny - Mark peddles excitement - or should that be pedals?
Morgan too was in the ass-kicking business. Booting, driving, spurring his colleagues on whilst, laying back when the mood demanded it.
Amidst it all stood Grainger, cooler than a cucumber, steadying the ship, The Rock of Gibraltar could learn a thing or two from Paul.
The name of the group, the Riviera Quartet, was inspired by the 1960's Dizzy Gillespie recording -Dizzy on the French Riviera - although all but one of the tunes played by the quartet were originals by either Tanton or Williams.
As the last number drew to a close the audience showed their appreciation by either clapping their hands, or, in Chaplin's* case, wagging its tail.
Let's hope this band shows up again soon - after all, you can't let a Jack Russell down!
Lance.
*Chaplin, Lindsay Hannon's Jack Russell terrier.

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