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

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Sunday, September 02, 2018

Sirkis-Bialas International Quartet @ The Globe

Silwia Bialas (voice/bowed 'thingy'); Asaf Sirkis (drums); Frank Harrison (keys); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
A crowded upstairs Jazz Bar.
Wylam Brewery's Golden Ale on tap.
An incredible drummer.
A melodic bass guitarist.
An impressive keyboard player.
A voice that encompassed a range most contraltos can only dream about.
Melody, Harmony and Rhythm ever present in varying degrees.
It was compulsive.
It was intense.
Even the wordless vocals had a poetic quality about them.
So, having ticked all the above boxes, why didn't I stay for the second set?
I don't know.
Perhaps I was still under the spell of the majestic splendour of last weekend's Ushaw Festival.
Maybe the funky soul of Gerry R and the E-Types at Hoochie on Thursday had moved the goal posts.
Was I looking forward too much to hearing Bruce Adams at Darlo tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 2)?
The ethnic diversity of the material? 
Or was I just punching above my weight?
Still, it was good for JNE and the Jazz Coop to have such a large turnout and my departure at least allowed someone else to have a seat (I should have auctioned it!)
One of our reviewers didn't make it. Texted and said, "Too tired after the afternoon workshop."
That must have been some workshop!
Lance.

1 comment :

Ken Drew (on F/b). said...

That 'thingy' which Sylwia played is a Waterphone - Charlie Collins played one at The Bridge a while back and Wiki gives a good idea of how it came into use. Nice to see one again !!

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