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.

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.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Jam Session @ The Black Swan - Nov. 13

(Review by Lance).

Such is the nature of jam sessions that the standard of performance is variable and if I say that this week didn't quite have the pizzazz of two weeks ago there was still plenty to savour, not least the house rhythm section who ensured that everyone got the best of support.

Showtime (David Gray) arrived wearing a hat that became a mute or was it vice versa? Whatever, he didn't pale by comparision with the trombone players I'd already heard that day on CD.

Elliott Todd, from Manchester, and George Sykes from, musically speaking, Vermont appeared to struggle early on but, once the instruments were warmed up, got into their stride later on.
The vocalists tended to be under amplified and Poppy's fluting would have benefitted from closer proximity to the mic.

On drums, Mo gave Mark a well-earned break as did John Pope who, as always, brought scales of the unexpected into his solos when he spelled Paul on bass. However, it was Marcus Tham who took everyone by surprise when he gave the hardworking Jeremy a break. His delicate approach providing a suitable alternative to Jeremy's powerhouse playing. There's room for both.

The Metro was calling me from the Central Station so I missed out on what may well have been the highlight of the evening with les tout ensemble jamming for fifteen minutes on Strasbourg/St Denis. A tale of two metros.
Lance.
Photos.
Jeremy McMurray (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Mark Robertson (drums) + Debra Milne (vocals); Elliott Todd (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Poppy (flute/vocal); John Pope (bass); Marcus Tham (piano); Hazem Mohammed (drums).

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