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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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.

Thursday, October 05, 2017

CD Review: Dom Pipkin - Smokin' Boogie: The Live Bootleg Sessions

Dom Pipkin (piano/vocal)
(Review by Lance).
It's close on two years since I heard and was knocked out by Dom and the Ikos at Hoochie Coochie. They've been back since but, unfortunately, circumstances decreed that I missed their last visit. However, this solo outing by Dom goes someway to making up for it. Subtitled The Live Bootleg Sessions and recorded at various southern venues it's a belter. If the UK had a Mason-Dixon Line these would be well south of it. In fact, close your eyes and use a bit of imagination and you could well find yourself below the actual MD Line rather than at St. Leonards on Sea, Cheltenham or the East Surrey College where some of these tracks were laid down to enthusiastic applause. 
It's all here - Willie Dixon, Percy Mayfield, Jelly Roll, Spencer Williams, Little Walter, Leadbelly and others along with some Pipkin originals.
Blues, ragtime, whatever, Dom takes it all in his stride (and I use the word advisedly) if the East Surrey College had been in Natchez they'd have made him a Professor.  
Apart from playing a whole lot of piano, he also shouts the blues like as though he was a fully articled cotton picker's clerk.
And yet... listen to the final track - I'll be Seeing You! As rhapsodic a version as you're likely to find and none the worse for that. I bet even Vera Lynn would like it.
For myself, all I can say is that, hopefully, I'll be seeing you again sometime at Hoochie.
Available on Hambone 003 or at gigs.
Lance.

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