Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 2025).

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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.br/> Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Friday, October 18, 2019

Gerry Richardson Jazz Quartet @ Hoochie Coochie - Oct. 17

Gerry Richardson (organ/vocal); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair to follow).

So we'd heard most, if not all of the numbers before, who cares? does it matter? Truth is that, after they've played the head, it's like hearing them for the first time as all four come out with guns a-blazing.
Gerry, a.k.a Brother Jimmy "Groove" McSmith, has certainly got his Crumar Mojo working delivering forearm smashes like a latter day Jackie Pallo. Close your eyes and you'd swear this was the Steinway of jazz organs - the Hammond B3. Is there a better soul stylist in the UK than our man? Maybe, but I've yet to hear him. Gerry also sings.

Garry Linsley is cooler than an Icelandic cucumber - offstage - but when he starts blowing the blues he morphs into Eddie "Cleanhead" Vincent or Louis Jordan with a touch of Charlie Parker thrown in for good measure. Next time you draw up a list of big hitters don't forget that it's Garry not Gary.

Rod Sinclair - a terrorist with a Telecaster - surely strikes fear into the hearts of any up and coming Claptons. Last night he may have given the great man himself a few palpitations.

Paul Smith, as ever, punching way above his weight, pushing the other three towards the brink and himself exploding on African Sunset - a song not a drink although I'm sure the Hoochie bar staff would hustle one up if requested.

A great night, the only surprise being that the dance floor wasn't crowded - it was the kind of rhythm that was aimed at both your feet and your soul.
Lance
Photos.
Alligator Boogaloo; Everybody's Crying Mercy, Times Are Getting Tougher; Mercy Mercy Me; Soul Shadows; Walking the Dog; African Sunset; Memphis Underground; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; Think I'll Lay Waste to Myself Tonight; I Put a Spell on You; Back in the Chicken Shack; The Stumble.
PS: Gerry's motto seems to be "When in doubt play a tune with Mercy in the title!"

No comments :

Blog Archive