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

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.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

CD Review: Damian Cook Quintet - You What?

Damian Cook (alto sax); Dave Boraston (trumpet/flugel); Graeme Taylor (piano); Joe Limburn (bass); Ted Carrasco (drums)
(Review by Lance).

This is a rocking band - and I mean rocking without the roll - what in the thirties we might have described as a jump band and what, in later years, under the direction of Bruce Turner, was indeed described in the aforementioned terms. Put simply, it rocks, it swings, it jumps. It's mainstream verging on bebop and it not only gets your feet tapping but your heart beat finds a good, albeit worrying, groove too!

Eight original tracks composed and arranged by Damian Cook who blows terrific alto. To quote Ira Gitler from an earlier review, "If Junior Cook were to legally pluralize his last name, it would read like the baldest statement of fact". Substitute Damian for Junior and it's still relevant.

There's also some tasty trumpet/flugel from Dave Boraston who is a bit of a discovery for me although, as we have 69 mutual friends on Facebook including Jo Harrop, Enrico, Alan Barnes, Simon Spillett, Chris Hibbard, Chris Hodgkins and 63 others, I feel I should be sending him Christmas cards. Check him out next time you're down south.

No need to ride the rods down to Kings Cross to catch Damian he's in pantomine at the Theatre Royal this year - oh yes he is - and, just as he has done in previous years, will be having a blow at The Globe and maybe sitting in at a jam or two. He's the real deal.

What am I saying? The whole band is very much the real deal. The rhythm section could be straight out of Harlem, via Chicago and Kansas City.

The CD just arrived this morning but no way was I going to allow it to disinfect in the hallway for even an hour. It only took one track before it was shuffled to the front of the queue.

Terrific!
Lance.

Rope, Garden, Golf...; Dry Roasted; Wakened Jazz Yelp; Down and Up; Julian and Nat; Church It Guys!; Down; Dimished Responsibility.

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