Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18429 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 13 ) 27,

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

April

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 16: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jewish Musicians/Composers/Vocalists.
Thu 16: Sleep Suppressor + Silk Road + So Anne So @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00., £8.00., £6.00.
Thu 16: Fourpenny Rabbits @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £12.96 (inc. bf) online; £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.

Sat 18: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Swing dance sessions + Bright Street Big Band 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm.
Sat 18: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm. £27.00 (inc. bf).

Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Lara Hopper.
Sun 19: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Straight to Tape @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Edd Carr, Jonathan Proud, John Hirst. Blues trio.
Sun 19: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Tue 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval NE25 0AT. Tel: 0191 237 3697. Tickets: £14.00. ‘Pie & Pea Lunch’.
Tue 21: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £29.00., £26.00., £23.00.
Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Jack Littlewood (drums).

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh @ The Corner House, Whitley Bay - December 22, 1975

The sad death of Lee Konitz this week brought back memories of that immortal session at the Whitley Bay Corner House where the award winning alto saxophonist appeared with Warne Marsh and the Peter Ind Trio - Peter Ind (bass); Dave Cliff (guitar) and Al Levitt (drums).

Dave Weisser had a weekly session there with his Friends of Jazz group which, presumably, opened the doors for one of the most prestigious modern jazz gigs to have ever taken place in Whitley Bay.

Peter Bevan sent me the above photos and, although he is unsure of the source. I can confirm that they were, in fact, taken by Jack Goodwin, compiler of the definitive Warne Marsh discography and, at the time, a keen jazz photographer and the most knowledgeable authority on Warne Marsh on the planet and, by association, Lee Konitz. 

These pics have refreshed my memories of that wonderful December evening in 1975. Was it snowing? Was the moon as high as Charlie Carmichael and I as we rolled home? Who knows? Who cares? We were drunk with the music...
Lance

5 comments :

Stu Collingwood (on F/b) said...

I remember seeing Lee Konitz with the Bill Evans Trio at Ayresome park long ago.

Lance said...

Yup I was there too. Unfortunately I didn't bring my binoculars!
With such introvert players as Konitz and Evans you needed to hear them in a small club or concert hall not in the middle of a football pitch!

Stu Collingwood (on F/b) said...

I could hardly hear with the sound of the crowd, bloody Boro fans 😂

Anonymous said...

Yes that Whitley Bay concert was quite something. Never to be forgotten. It says a lot that Lee and Warne chose Dave Cliff doesn't it. I sometimes went to see Dave Weisser and Friends of Jazz at the venue. Dave was great leading that band and in typical unselfish fashion gave opportunities to other players. I think often Eric Gamblin played guitar but occasionally son Paul played and I remember a young Mark Wood too. And was it Joy Askew who sang with the band? I think it might have been Dave Murphy on bass. Great sessions and happy times.
Roly

George Milburn (on F/b) said...

Mine is a Band on the Wall, Manchester late 70’s, duo memory. I was at the front - what a beautiful performance - but who was the piano player he was touring with?

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