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

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.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 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: 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.

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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