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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

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.

Thursday, May 07, 2020

Andrew Oliver in Lockdown, piano for sale - May 6

Andrew Oliver has a new album to promote, a piano to sell and a move back home sometime soon. A star performer at last year's Classic Jazz Party on Tyneside, pianist Oliver has kept himself busy performing regular live stream lockdown sessions.      

On Wednesday evening, from the comfort and safety of his London home, Oliver previewed a selection of numbers from his new CD No Local Stops*. A feature of the pianist's recent online gigs has been a noticeable absence of sheet music. A Jelly Roll Morton specialist with a comprehensive knowledge of the work of many other pianists of the era (essentially 1920s/30s' ragtime and stride piayers), Oliver once again dazzled with his technical proficiency. 

Arthur Schutt's Piano Puzzle opened the one hour programme, Bert Williams and The Perfect Rag were two of a bunch of Morton numbers with Oliver wryly noting the composer's typical humility titling  the latter number as he did! The album's title track, No Local Stops by Willie 'The Lion' Smith had to be included and it was, with Oliver saying the composer never recorded the piece although in later years Ralph Sutton certainly did. 
Seger Ellis' Sentimental Blues provided an example of the Texas school of pianists. Oliver revealed that earlier this year he met up with cornetist Colin Hancock in Austin, Texas to cut a 78 disc of the number - these guys are serious about their art!. Joseph Lamb's Cottontail Rag made the set list and, before going out on Morton's The Pearls, Oliver made an unusual sales pitch - PIANO FOR SALE! Our pianist from Oregon is soon to return home after several years living in London. If you're after an upright why not make Andrew an offer!

No Local Stops is available from Rivermont Records, USA and Dave Kelbie's London-based Lejazzetal Records. Inner London listeners/viewers are in for a treat - order a copy from www.lejazzetal.com and Mr Kelbie will deliver your copy...by bike!

* No Local Stops' brilliant cover artwork is by Classic Jazz Party favourite, percussionist Nick Ball. 
Russell
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