Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

May

Fri 15: Conor Emery Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Line-up Emery (trombone); Alix Shepherd (piano); John Pope (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 adv., £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Puppini Sisters @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!

Sat 16: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. God Bless the Child - Lady Day!. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 16: Kaberry Big Band @ the Seahorse Pub, Hillheads Rd., Whitley Bay NE23 8HR. From 7:30pm. £15.00
Sat 16: Lady Nade @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. ‘Lady Nade sings Nina Simone’.

Sun 17: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Forum Theatre, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Sun 17: QOW Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Spike Wells, Riley Stone-Lonergan & Eddie Myer.

Mon 18: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Mark Williams Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 19: GoGo Penguin + Daudi Matsiko @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £22.00 + £4.40 bf.
Tue 19: Danny Lowndes’ Hot Club @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £5.00 bf.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums).

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Jordan Jackson @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.80 (inc. bf); £15.40 (inc. bf).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Friday, September 20, 2019

RIP Harold Mabern

Just heard the sad news that legendary post-bop pianist Harold Mabern (pictured with Martin Hummel)died yesterday (Sept. 19) although, after pulling out of a UK tour through ill health last August, I suppose the advance warnings were there.

It is to my eternal regret that I never heard him live - only on record. The record I'm thinking of is Harold with Eric Alexander - Burnin' in London by the New York All Stars. When Alyn Shipton asked for Record of the Year selections on Jazz Record Requests this was my automatic choice.
In earlier years he was almost a house pianist at Blue Note playing on albums with Hank Mobley (Dippin'), Lee Morgan (The Gigolo) and Freddie Hubbard (Night of the Cookers) among others.

Harold Mabern was 83 - he will be sadly missed.
Lance

3 comments :

Martin Hummel (on F/b) said...

The jazz world has lost another legend, and a warm, charming, wonderful human being. God bless you, Mabes. Never stop hammering those keys, with a touch like no one else. I can still hear your infectious laugh, as you shared your endlessly enchanting stories. You lived your dream. And now your music will live, forever...

Lizzie said...

I knew Harold for 33 years. I studied with him for at least five of those, probably more, I would have to look at my lesson tapes to check. I am deeply grieving. He was not only one of the greatest jazz pianists alive, but so idiosyncratic that it was always and remains impossible to mistake his playing - I am listening to "Philadelphia Bound" as I write this. I saw him many, many times, and shared many hours learning from him. He was perhaps the most generous person I have ever known, and among the very kindest. He was deeply religious and spiritual, and as well such a happy musician, you can hear his joy throughout his recordings and performances. I was privileged to see him perform many times. Many years ago I made a demo CD and got a phone call: "Is this the young lady who sounds like Tommy Flanagan?" That was pure Mabern; always encouraging, always generous. I have many lesson tapes and with fellow student Phill Argyris will be making these available on MP3s for other musicians. I don't know if that is what Harold would have wanted, but I should think he wouldn't mind my sharing them with the world. Nothing can repair this loss; I will not see his like again.

Lance said...

Thank you Lizzie for that heartfelt eulogy to Harold Mabern. How fortunate you must feel by having known him as a friend and mentor whilst, at the same time, adding to your sadness at his passing.
Do keep us informed re the MP3s.

Blog Archive