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

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.

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.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

CD Review: Matthew Kaminski Quartet w. Kimberley Gordon - Live at Churchill Grounds


Matthew Kaminski (Hammond SK2); Will Scruggs (sax); Rod Harris Jr. (gtr); Chris Burroughs (dms); Kimberley Gordon (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
Kaminski has a regular gig down in Atlanta GA. playing to a crowd of 40,000 each session and he does it over 80 times each year. That's 3 million listeners! Well, maybe they don't listen too intently having other things on their minds like if the Atlanta Braves can beat The Mets. Yes, Kaminski is the resident organist at all of The Braves home games. He doesn't play much jazz at the ball games. However, away from the ballpark, ensconced in Atlanta's premier jazz spot, Churchill Grounds, it's a, pardon the pun, a whole different ball game.
Some of the most swinging, funkiest organ playing since the heyday of Smith, McDuff and McGriff. Kaminski hits home runs on every track of this most enjoyable CD. 
Sail on Sailor (Brian Wilson); Hot Dog (Lou Donaldson); Midnight Special (Jimmy Smith); If I Had You (vocal by Gordon); So Danco Samba (Jobim - vcl Gordon); Just Squeeze me (Ellington - vcl Gordon); It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream (Ellington - vcl Gordon); April in Paris (inspired by Wild Bill Davis/Basie version, vcl Gordon); I Love Being Here With You (vcl Gordon); A Real Goodun' (Jack McDuff).
Apart from Kaminski, there's blistering tenor from Scruggs, simpatico guitar from Harris Jr. and kickass drumming from Burroughs.
The vocals are handled by Kimberley Gordon who has an Ella-like feel for the lyrics which doesn't do any harm whatsoever! 
If he was in the UK I could recommend him for a gig at the Stadium of Light - Sunderland need all the help they can get.
However, as he ain't, perhaps the 'Black Cats might look to Gerry Richardson?
As David Moyes is probably not going to take up my suggestion then fans of our local Hammond Hero will have to Hootchie along to 54 Pilgrim St., Newcastle, on Thursday (October 27) where Gerry's Quartet take centre stage at 8:30pm. It's free.
Lance.

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