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

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.

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.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Sarah Vaughan on Sunday Night at the London Palladium

Back in the day, the highlight of  Sunday night viewing was Sunday Night at the London Palladium. A variety show, it ran for many years and even today there is a version hosted by Bradley Walsh.

Watching the earlier editions it is amazing just how abysmal they now seem. Compere Tommy Trinder was even less funny then than today's crop of comedians are now which is saying something!


However, every so often there was a gem and, in 1958, courtesy of the Talking Pictures TV channel, one of those memorable nights was resurrected with four wonderful songs by Sarah Vaughan.

After, with no disrespect to the Cherokee nation, the worst singer I have ever heard - Marvin Rainwater - we had an American "comedian" called Dick Shawn, puppets Pinky and Perky and a stupid game show ... I opened another can.

Then, suddenly, it all happened! 

Enter the Divine Miss Sarah Vaughan ...

Sassy looked great and sounded terrific. No vocal excesses, just pure jazz inflected renditions of four songs. If This Isn't Love; Poor Beautiful; They All Laughed and I'll Never Smile Again - all complete with verse.

Magic! I don't know who's on next week but, even it's Ella, they are on a hiding to nothing!*
Lance

*I may eat my words! Next week it's Bobby Darin and ex Goodman/Harry James singer Art Lund!
at

1 comment :

Russell said...

Much of television was terrible way back when, little has changed! The one exception, no make that two exceptions, on this dismal variety show were the Divine Sarah making her British television debut and the Teletubbies of their time, Pinky and Perky!

Monday, May 18, 2020 7:55:00 am

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive