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.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Cameron Vale @The Bridge - December 12

Miles Spilsbury (saxophone, effects); George Birkett (guitar); Sam Dutton-Taylor (bass); Finn Booth (drums)
(Review by Steve H/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
For the second successive Sunday, Jazz North East presented a band from Jazz North’s ‘Northern Line’ roster. Cameron Vale sounds like it’s the sort of place our ex-prime minister should live but in fact, the quartet is named after a character from the science fiction movie Scanners. The music certainly had a futuristic feel to it with the band using plenty of electronic effects to create layers of sound. Drummer Booth appeared to have come from a rock background rather than a jazz one so the mood was more Rozzy than Jacky but, having said that, there was lots and lots of different stuff going on much of which was at the same time.
The band themselves cite jazz, metal, electronica, Afrobeat, and Klezmer as influences. Amongst the melee, there were fine free jazz solos from saxophonist and special effects player Spilsbury. Birkett produced some very subtle guitar work to go with some more strident attacks. Things were all held together by bass player and reluctant but affable MC Dutton-Taylor.
I thoroughly enjoyed the high energy and innovative rocky feel of the evening. At another venue with another crowd, they would have been dancing in the aisles. As it was, instead of waiting to be asked for an encore, the band enquired as to whether the audience would like to hear another one - the response to which was a resounding YES.  
Steve H.

1 comment :

Steve T said...

Actually this would have been my destination had I not been under the knife but I'm looking out for a chance to see Budtet.
As it happened, I was a brave boy and had no gas and air so could have driven anyway; who says men couldn't have babies.

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