BSH Interviews Pete Gilligan

Prior to his gig at the Prohibition Bar, Gateshead, last night BSH Editor Lance caught up with pianist Pete Gilligan for a chat and an update:

Pete, until recently, you were pretty much a regular on the northeast jazz scene. How did you get to come up here in the first place?

I originally came to the northeast to go and study on the jazz, popular and commercial music course with James Birkett at what was then the John Marley Centre in Benwell. So that's why I came up here. Also, my sister lived in Sunderland for some time.

You were also very much involved with the Jazz Caff (Café) both ancient and modern for quite a long time.


The ancient involvement started when, I think, Jeff Armstrong asked me to come along and sit in with his band on a Friday night where Crombie then refused to let me in as he didn't recognise me even though I was in a suit with a piano! I spent about an hour in the rain before I eventually got in. From that point onwards I played there, well it was, at least, weekly until, well fairly recently.

And in the modern version you started off the jam session.

Well, with Paul Grainger, yes.

And it's continued very successfully.

So it seems to be, I'll find out on Tuesday.

And then you upped and offed.

Yes, I found myself doing a cruise ship gig in the South Pacific that ended up sooner than I planned and, well January and February in the northeast can be a bit cold and if you've given all your gigs and your teaching away it can be a bit bleak so we decided to do a bit of travelling which very quickly evolved into me working so that what was intended to be a three month holiday turned into 18 months and now I'm going back there. None of this was really planned, it's just the way it happened.

Do you work regular?

Yes, with a minimum of six gigs a week.

With good guys?

Yes with some very good guys. A New York drummer, Sean Kelly, a Thai bass player and another band with an Italian drummer, an American singer, Thai musicians, a five-piece and I also do a couple of solo gigs.

A good scene then?

Very good.

Do you have any plans to do some recording?

Yes I have. When I come back here in a few months, with some of the guys, and also out there. In the past I've always recorded for other people. Although I do actually prefer playing live.

I'll look forward to hearing them. Finally, when do you go back?

You'll have got rid of me by June 7.

I'll be counting the days - with sadness I hasten to add. Thanks Pete.

No problem.

Lance.