Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Stu Collingwood-Russ Morgan Organ Duo @ Dun Cow, Jesmond - August 15

Stu Collingwood (organ); Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell)
A no-nonsense gig...set up, reposition/requisition a few chairs, switch off the muzak, likewise the wall-mounted tv screen (tennis from Cincinnati) distractingly directly behind the musicians then hit the road with an uptempo Days of Wine and Roses. 
Yeh, Yeh kept things cookin' as Stu Collingwood readied himself for a vocal on Georgia. The north east boasts a plethora of fine pianists, yet it is only recently that Paul Edis has exercised the tonsils in public, now Stu, although one suspects he's been singing on gigs for many a year. So, this begs the question...how many of our piano men and women sing but haven't got round to it? You know their names, next time you see one of them request a vocal number! 
Any self-respecting (Hammond and its variants) organist puts the boot in with some Jimmy Smith and Stu showed due respect Back at the Chicken Shack. The other half of the duo - drummer Russ Morgan - knew the material alright, a nod, a glance sufficient to knock a succession of fours to the boundary or close it out. 

In the main familiar faces occupied the front row seats including Jazz Café regulars Ahmed, Ron, Pam and Dave. The rain hammered down onto the conservatory roof yet it only became apparent during the interval with Stu's Nord C1 momentarily silenced! 

In a Mellotone resumed matters, Affirmation, popularised by George Benson, kicked on, handing over to Joe Zawinul to cry Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. The organ-drums format goes way back and Stu and Russ clearly enjoyed their set - if it's good stuff, why not play it? Of course, a steamin' tempo works a treat on a gig like this and The Cat - yes, Jimmy Smith - tore it up, Nice Work If You Can Get It did the same with another vocal from Stu, and, hang on to your hats, you cats... C Jam Blues - what a killer!

The Girl from Ipanema called in just in time to hear Collingwood and Morgan end an excellent set with a smokin' take on Chick Corea's Got a Match?  The next duo gig at the Dun Cow is scheduled for Wednesday, August 29 with the brilliant Mark Willams and Joel Byrne-McCullough playing a jazz guitar set. Next week in Branding Park (August 22) it's jam session time led by the irrepressible James Harrison. 
Russell    
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