Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

An embarrassment of riches @ The Jazz Café - March 21

(Review/Photos by Russell).
This one was off the scale! Hanoi Pete created an opening for a budding piano dep. Step forward Mr James Harrison. Superb piano playing from the off – A Train, Our Love is Here to Stay, tonight was going to be good. A cast of thousands assembled in the wings, Ray Johnson (flugelhorn) got in there early – Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise with Harrison fleetingly quoting Puttin’ on the Ritz.
David Gray, trombone, does Latin (DG does anything and everything). Mr Strictly Smokin’ Michael Lamb, trumpet, joined DG on Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Harrison incorporating something like a stride pattern), up jumped Alex Saxon on flute, drummer Matt MacKellar joined the party, the show was well and truly on the road. The joint jumpin’, this, the Jazz Café jam session the greatest free show in town!
Up jumped Paul Skerritt, perhaps the one man to match Harrison for sheer enthusiasm. Sway with Vince Webb at the upright, Skerritt and an A-list horn section of Lamb, Gray and Saxon (on alto on this one) upped the ante. The impressive Webb took it down on Tenderly joined by JP (John Pope) on something like a McCoy Tyner vibe. Radio star Debra Milne walked in with a bebop chart, then Lindsay Hannon did her thing on I Can’t Give You Anything but Love with Harrison resuming piano duties. Multi reeds maestro Steve Summers tried out his new toy - a baritone sax! Give him a week or two and he’ll be as proficient on it as he is on alto, soprano, clarinet, EWI, etc etc.


Who else? Oh, yes! Jamie Toms – excellent on tenor, Dave McKeague, drums, the business, then, at the death, Arthur Higgins on tenor. The rhythm boys, Messrs Paul Grainger, bass, and drummer Russ Morgan as good as ever. Time please! But not before Skerritt fronted a mini big band on Let the Good Times Roll. One observer commented: It has been an embarrassment of riches. Quite.           
Russell
James Harrison (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums) + in no particular order (truthfully, can’t remember!)…Ray Johnson (flugelhorn), Michael Lamb (trumpet), David Gray (trombone), Vince Webb (piano), Matt MacKellar (drums), Alex Saxon (flute & alto saxophone), Stuart Collingwood (piano), Steve Summers (baritone saxophone), Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), John Pope (double bass), Dave McKeague (drums), Arthur Higgins (tenor saxophone), Paul Skerritt (vocals), Debra Milne (vocals) & Lindsay Hannon (vocals) 


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1 comment :

ray johnson said...

'twas a memorable evening all right.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017 7:46:00 pm

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