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.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Lorraine Baker's Eden - Album Launch Tour @ the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - Nov. 11

Lorraine Baker (drums); Binker Golding (tenor); John Turville (piano); Paul Michael (bass guitar).
(Review by Lance/ photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
I'd heard/reviewed the CD and knew what to expect. John Turville had replaced Liam Noble for the tour of which this JNE gig was about midway. The keyboarder dug in and ensured that nothing was lost in the exchange. Binker was, well Binker! With or without Moses he's a tenor contender. On bass guitar, Michael laid it down, soloing and supporting effectively.
Baker paid dutiful tribute to her inspiration, Ed Blackwell, and most of the numbers played related to Blackwell and are on the CD. Thus we heard compositions by Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, Karl Berger, Mark Helias plus John Coltrane's Central Park West which I don't think is on the album (the artwork is confusing) but was quite beautiful with Golding in lyrical mode.
The first set was ok but didn't really come totally to life until the final number, Coleman's Blues Connotation, that had our tenor player in full, no holds barred, flight.
An interval chat with Chris Hodgkins and a pint of Doom Bar which seemed appropriate as it's the Cornish brewery Sharps' flagship ale and two of the first three gigs of the tour were in Cornwall. Refreshed, it was then back to the music.
More from the album and some powerhouse percussive moments from the leader that rubber-stamped her qualifications as a drummer to be reckoned with.
If I describe this as, just another day at the office, then I must also qualify it as a 'Friday afternoon day at the office' - if you know what I mean - the dress down, hooray, it's the weekend, day!
Lance.
Ken Drew photos.

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