Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

September.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Beaumont Hotel, Hexham - Feb 11

Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Susans (double bass)
(Review by Russell)

The Beaumont Hotel is under new ownership and the first signs of change are now apparent. A ground floor corridor has become an off-limits building site with, no doubt, further renovations in the pipeline. What hasn't changed is the Monday evening jazz gig.

This week Ruth Lambert made a welcome return visit. Guitarist Giles Strong and bassist Paul Susans once again joined the Tyneside based vocalist to play a selection of GASbook numbers. Secret Love, Dindi, My Romance, Detour Ahead...who could ask for anything more? Ms. Lambert's innate sense of swing gives her a distinct advantage over the many pretenders to her crown. At one point your correspondent mused: Ruth could swing the phonebook.


If taste is a prerequisite - when singing the GASbook it surely is - Lambert, Strong and Susans have it in abundance. Guitarist Strong makes it look easy - as accompanist and soloist - and Paul Susans' bass playing is up there with the best of them. A tasty trio indeed, 'S Wonderful, you could say. Time After Time (wonderful upper register swing from Lambert) then Luiz Bonfá's A Day in the Life of a Fool brought the first set to a close.

The Mordue Brewery's Workie Ticket occupied the bar as the Beaumont Hotel's many diners occupied the dining room. Our trio settled into a corner to enjoy a well-earned meal. Another pint of Workie Ticket, a biscuit - they were on the bar, so why not? - and the second set was upon us. 

Paul Susans' solo on Beautiful Love set the standard for the second set, vocalist Ruth Lambert followed up singing the beguiling verse to Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and the bewitched audience (a few diehards there for the jazz plus the many diners) agreed There is no Greater Love. Jobim's Agua de Beber presented Giles Strong with another opportunity to show what he could do with timeless material and as the nine o'clock finish approached the trio went out on Angel Eyes, a restrained West Coast Blues (Ms. Lambert can wind it up when the mood takes), No Moon at All and There Will Never Be Another You.

Next week (Monday 18) the Dean Stockdale Trio will entertain the diehards and the diners. Why not join them? Seven o'clock 'til nine.   
Russell
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