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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Dan Walsh: LIVE Concerts at Home, Newcastle University - July 16

Dan Walsh (banjo, guitar, vocals)

WARNING! BANJO PLAYERS DO NOT CLICK ON THIS LINK BECAUSE YOU WILL HOY* YOUR BANJO IN THE TYNE (OR NEAREST RIVER)

During the pandemic LIVE in King's Hall concert performances have taken the form of online LIVE Concerts at Home. Today's seventh and penultimate Newcastle University YouTube term time concert presented British banjo virtuoso Dan Walsh in a solo performance spanning some forty five minutes.

Clawhammer banjo specialist Dan Walsh played a hugely entertaining set of tunes mainly on banjo with one blues number on guitar which had a tangential link to the jazz world. Bella Fleck's Big Country got the show under way and what a show it would turn out to be! The Light of Day, the first of several Walsh originals, Plan B, a set of tunes ('jigs', said Walsh),  yes, the man with a nice line in self-deprecation demonstrated his undoubted virtuosity. 

A visit to India inspired a fusion piece - The Whiplash Reel - played on banjo yet sounding sitar-like. Tremendous! This week's King's Hall Concert at Home performer switched to guitar to play Robben Ford's Up the Line. * Jigs, reels, blues and bluegrass, it appeared nothing was beyond Walsh. 

Still a Town (banjo and vocals) referenced Walsh's home town of Stafford. Many other references came easily to the easy-going Walsh; the Coen Brothers, re-runs of Tops of the Pops, gigging in care homes and his time studying on the folk degree course at Newcastle University. Walsh recalled fondly a regular Tuesday night folk session in a Newcastle city centre pub - that'll be the Haymarket on Percy Street, Dan. And with that, a set, or pair, of tunes - Tuesday Night Session - closed a marvellous lockdown session courtesy of Newcastle University.       

* Hoy = to throw.

* It's likely that Dan is unaware that in the 1980s Robben Ford performed at the Newcastle Jazz Festival at Northern Stage (then the Playhouse) just around the corner from the Haymarket pub and but a stone's throw from King's Hall, Armstrong Building (see photo).  
Russell 
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