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

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.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Booker T. Jones @ Sage Gateshead - February 26

Booker T. Jones (guitar/B3/vocals); Ted Jones (guitar/vocals); Lawrence Shaw (bass guitar); Darian Grey (drums/vocals).
(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Russell).

Booker T on a jazz blog? Why not? His soulful sounds and vocals are closer to jazz than many of the so-called names headlining at a lot of jazz festivals worldwide. Proof that genre boundaries are becoming much less defined which is how it should be. 

The great man played Hammond, guitar, sang and gave a musical synopsis of his life. He may not have had his legendary M.G.'s but tonight's band certainly weren't Ford Anglias. The groove was in from the moment they let the clutch out.

A choice selection of hits with the biggest reaction given, not surprisingly, to Green Onions (as well as being Booker T's 'greatest hit' it's currently the soundtrack to a Birdseye TV ad!)


Other classics included Soul Limbo; Summertime (!); Born Under a Bad Sign; Knockin' on Heaven's Door; Purple Rain; Hip Hug Her (vocal by Grey); Melting Pot; Everything is Everything; Time is Tight and When Something's Wrong With My Baby.

90 minutes - maybe more - of nonstop action flew by in no time at all. On guitar, Ted Jones, Booker's son, impressed with some sizzling solos and vocals often duetting with dad whilst Shaw's bass guitar solo on, I think, Melting Pot drew the only mid-number applause of the evening. It was worth it.

A very enjoyable set that would have been fantastic if it had been in the more intimate surrounds of Sage Two or at a small club with a dance floor.
Lance.

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