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.

Saturday, February 09, 2019

The Paul Donnelly Organ Trio @ Dormans Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - Feb.7.

Paul Donnelly (guitar); Stuart Collingwood (organ/bass pedal); and Paul Smith (drums).
(Review by Ron H)

The second guest band of the year at Dormans proved to be another memorable night of Jazz from three highly talented musicians.

Starting with Clifford Brown's Joy Spring, and the classic Nature Boy, superb solos all round gave the audience a flavour of what was in store.

Pat Metheny's James, was followed by the beautiful bossa nova Black Orpheus, with impeccable rhythm set up by Paul on drums before featuring Stuart on Jimmy Smith's The Cat, with fine keyboard work and faultless bass pedal input.


Paul on guitar played a moving intro to the ballad Where is the Love? before the band finished the first half off with the up-tempo Bayou, showing their skills to play together with ease.

A request for the ever popular St. Thomas, started the second half followed by a nice version of I Say A Little Prayer.

An impressive ‘Round Midnight, was featured Paul on guitar with Paul Smith and Stuart joining in with perfect timing for the ending. Monk’s Straight No Chaser, showed the band’s versatility.

 A beautifully played  Carol King's It's Too Late, and the George Benson style Affirmation, finished the second set but, such was the enthusiasm of the audience, an encore was demanded and it was Jobim's One Note Samba that brought the evening to a close.

It was a pleasure to listen to these three great musicians, each doing thoughtful and exciting solos, playing so well together with such a wide variety of numbers and styles.

Thanks go to the enthusiastic audience and to the help and support given to us in running the Jazz nights by Dormans Club. 

Ron H.

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