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

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.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Sunday, June 05, 2016

Lonnie Liston Smith Band @ Hoochie Coochie - June 4

Lonnie Liston Smith (keys); Tabitha Pearson (vcl); Samir Moulay (gtr); ? (bs gtr); Lee Pearson (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
Over the years, I've seen just about all the great drummers: Gene Krupa; Jo Jones; Buddy Rich; Kenny Clarke; Art Blakey; Joe Morello; Shelly Manne; Mel Lewis; Sonny Payne; Elvin Jones....
Last night another name was added to that illustrious list! Lee Pearson is described by Evans Drumheads as 'One of the most vibrant and electrifying drummers of all time'. I doubt if anyone in Hoochie last night would argue with that. He was simply phenomenal!
Not just as a soloist but as a driving force, a breath-taking  inspiration to player and listener alike.
It was one of them ab. fab. nights, the sort of night that comes along about as frequently as a blue moon. Lonnie Liston and the band giving out all the right signals to delight the crowded but, amazingly, not sold-out, bar. Tabitha,  a voice with an amazing range, Samir, guitar wizardry, and a bass guitarist whose name I missed but who took the six stringed instrument to an incredible level combining with Lonnie Liston and Lee Pearson to have the room rockin' from bar one. The guy next to me was doing an Ali Shuffle - maybe we all were deep down. Was I in Newcastle, Detroit or the south side of Chicago? Would I be going home on the number 27, a Greyhound bus, a '52 pick-up truck or hitching a ride on an eastbound freighter?
I think I just floated home on a cloud.
Photos.
Lance.

1 comment :

Patti said...

Great review, Lance - it was a blast!! Maybe Warren will know the name of the ace bassman? Whatever - it was a fabulously funky session!

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