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.

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Jazz Café Jam Session - October 4.

Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms) + Joel Brown (pno); Steve Brown (bs); Matt Mackellar (dms); Fabio Sousa (tmb); Michael Lamb (tpt); Jamie Toms (ten); Paul Gowland (sop); John Pope (bs); David Gray (tmb); Flossie Taylor (vcl); Edgar Bell (gtr).
(Review by Lance).
Messrs Gilligan, Grainger and Morgan were on the case and, cited Just Friends; Autumn Leaves and Armando's Rumba as proof that they were, as claimed by the Jazz Café blurb, ',,,three of Tyneside's finest jazz musicians'. The jury found them guilty as charged and sentenced them to 3 hours community service to be served on the first and third Tuesday of each month in the company of, and again I quote, '...an impressive array of newcomers, old timers, and musicians at the top of their game.'
As can be seen from the personnel listed above this was a fair assessment of the talent on show tonight.
Joel Brown took over on piano for All the Things You Are whilst his dad Steve and Matt Mackellar moved in for Caravan and Someday my Prince Will Come before Gilligan returned for an impressive Girl Talk. Bouncing with Bud (I think) brought the set to a close. It had been a good one and compensated for the absence of Geordie Jazz compelling me to choose another of Hadrian Brewery's products, the appropriately named (in more ways than one) Grainger Ale. The label said it was gluten free which means I was having a healthy drink.
Time for the horns to take centre stage, Three of SSBB's high fliers, Lamb, Toms and Gowland were joined by Portuguese trombonist Sousa, who first appeared on the scene at Hoochie last week with SeeNine, to jam on Whisper Not
John Pope turned up on bass for Take the A Train and, as Fabio left to take a train to the Portuguese Quarter of Sunderland, in walked David Gray. No shortage of 'bones tonight.
A new face in the form of Flossie Taylor provided voice and words to No Moon at All; Lullaby of Birdland and It Could Happen to You. A promising young singer. Birdland had a sizzling intro from Lamb whilst Gray blew the cobwebs out of It Could Happen to You and I left to catch the number 27.
Another good day at the office.
Photos.
Lance
PS: Throughout it all,Edgar Bell on acoustic guitar sat chording and occasionally soloing although being unamplified nothing was heard!

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