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

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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.

Friday, July 06, 2018

Mavis Staples to play Newcastle’s Boiler Shop!

(Preview by Russell)
Legendary gospel and rhythm and blues singer Mavis Staples will be in concert one week from today in a Sage Gateshead promotion at Boiler Shop on South Street, Newcastle. Born into a musical family led by ‘Pops’ Staples, the early years found Chicagoan Mavis Staples singing gospel material and later the popularity of rhythm and blues won the family recording deals with prestigious labels such as Columbia and Atlantic.

In the late sixties Staples released a solo album on the hugely successful Stax label and since then has gone on to record numerous albums, some of them with the assistance of industry luminaries including   Curtis Mayfield and Prince. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, sampled by hip-hop artists, if Staples decided to take it easy few would take issue. Yet, as many musicians do, Mavis Staples continues with a recording and touring schedule taking her across the world. On Friday July 13 Staples will perform at the Grade II* listed Boiler Shop, the Stephenson Works’ site of George Stephenson’s pioneering 1800s railway engineering projects. The stunning South Street venue presents a wonderful opportunity to hear one of America’s greatest living artists performing up-to-the-minute material from 2017’s CD If All I Was Was Black. 

Joining Mavis Staples at this Sage Gateshead promotion will be Benjamin Booker, a young man whose successful 2017 album Witness features Staples on the title track, and could it be that they will share a stage at some point during the evening? There is one way to find out, contact Sage Gateshead today to book your tickets – 0191 443 4666.     
Russell.                  

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