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.

Saturday, July 01, 2017

Matt Anderson & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil - June 30

Matt Anderson (tenor saxophone) & Paul Edis (piano)
(Review by Russell/Photo by Brian Ebbatson)

Is this where the harpsichord recital is?
 Er? No, it’s jazz, tenor saxophone and piano.
Oh!
Our recital goer paid the admission!
Leeds College of Music alumnus Matt Anderson, these days based in London, jumped on a train at breakfast time, arriving in Newcastle at around midday to play a duo concert with Paul Edis. A rainy day in town, would numbers be down? Not likely! The Loftus Room in the Lit & Phil was as near its capacity as always. Fridays, monthly, are the new late night jazz session.
A one hour set found Matt and Paul contributing tunes of their own interspersed with a standard or two. Matt’s Burning Man, Paul’s Regret (a world premiere, no less!), a reworking of Edelweiss, the duo have worked together several times over the last two or three years, and this renewal resulted in a high-level empathetic performance. Perhaps the duo will take their partnership on the road. As the Loftus Room is conducive to acoustic performance it made a pleasant change to see the place free of amplifiers, cables and pedal boards.

Matt’s It’s Later Than You Think (to do with sundials and their inscriptions – aka graffiti), heard Matt projecting his secure, fulsome sound, and on Nordic Blues Paul stretched out, crafting one of many first-rate solos on material he sees on an occasional basis – ie when they play a gig together. Two Birmingham Conservatoire undergraduates were in town. One of them well acquainted with Paul’s piano-playing, the other, a pianist making a first visit to Newcastle, the young man was impressed!
The hour flew by, another excellent Lit & Phil gig. Next month’s concert – July 21st – presents Ruth Lambert with her new band featuring Alan Law, piano, Neil Harland, double bass and Russ Morgan drums. One o’clock start, arrive early as seats are at a premium and this concert is likely to sell out.
Russell.

No comments :

Blog Archive