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).

Friday, July 03, 2020

Nick Gould and Friends: Livestream - July 3

Nick Gould (tenor sax); David Midas (guitar); Ray Leonard (bass guitar); Kevin Dorrian (drums).

A wee gem from Edinburgh with Nick Gould and his trusty henchmen blowing away the cobwebs* in the hallway of  Nick's pad. I'm not sure if this is classed as a JazzMain or a Nick Gould Quartet livestream. In the end, I opted for  ... and Friends.

Five tunes delivered on time. Misty not the dreamy ballad version but a jaunty shuffle - maybe a quickstep tempo - take your partners please.

It worked although I hoped they weren't going to do the same with Body and Soul. Of course they weren't! The Johnny Green classic was treated with due reverence Nick's sound doing justice to the mood, David Midas delighting us, just as he has done on his occasional visits to Newcastle with Nick, and Kevin and Sugar Ray holding it all together.

Joyspring upped the tempo before a tribute to the late Johnny Mandel with a tune that was unfamiliar to me, Cinnamon and Clove. Nick said that they hadn't played it before so wall to wall manuscript paper was needed. No problem they did Johnny Mandel and themselves proud.

To finish off with - Anthropology. Like wow!
Lance

* A figure of speech, there weren't any cobwebs in this des res!

1 comment :

Nick Gould said...

Hi Lance, thanks so much for the review. I have started doing a few sessions from the hallway with various friends and it has been fun although nothing like a live gig.

I hope everyone is doing well down your way, I am looking forward to a long overdue Tuesday night in Newcastle.

Best Nick

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