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

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.

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).

Wednesday, June 03, 2020

Dom Pipkin: Wednesday Piano Joys - June 3

Dom Pipkin (piano/vocals).

Dom's regular Wednesday night spot never fails to please and tonight was no exception.

I turned up slightly late for the recital (all the best people do - I'm the exception) but the 45 minutes that I did hear made me wish I'd been on time.

The beauty of Dom's playing is in the variety that he offers. I could say, not a lot of jazz and I would be totally wrong. There is often more jazz played in blues and rock & roll than there is in some of the things that pass for jazz these days! 

However, I'm not going down that road - that is a discussion for another day - instead, I'm going to reflect upon the ambiance of this man's playing which first impressed me at Hoochie with his Ikos and later at a solo gig in Darlo with a couple of CDs in between.

When I arrived on Facebook, which, tonight, was behaving itself, Hallelujah I Just Love Her So was in full flight. Great number whether by Basie (w. Joe Williams), Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra or Dom Pipkin.

George Michael's Careless Whisper was given some extra Wham! when it segued into I Will Wait for You and what could be a more appropriate song for today than Make a Better World?

A jaunty Happy Birthday, James Booker's Pixie and a cameo appearance by one of Dom's cats - a black and white beauty!

Ain't Misbehavin' was given the Fats' treatment whilst Tutti Frutti was for the late Little Richard.

Our 88er put the baby grand through its paces on Rockin' Pneumonia before moving back to the 1930s and Just One More Chance.

A Stevie Wonder tune, that I didn't recognise, followed. Suffice to say it was rather beautiful.

Jambalaya, made me want to put crawfish pie and filé gumbo on my shopping list for tomorrow.

The cat returned, or was it a different one? I always say a house is not a home without a cat or two. On the Sunny Side of the Street was followed by What a Wonderful World ...

Dom's back next Wednesday.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive