Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: 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 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

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

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Joe Webb live stream @ Kansas Smitty's - "Ahmad Jamal Live at the Pershing" - Oct. 29

Joe Webb (piano); Ferg Ireland (bass); Jason Brown (drums).

Ronnie's or Smitty's? It was a tough call. The Omar Puente Sextet v The Joe Webb Trio. I put my head around the virtual door on Frith St. then hightailed it over to 63-65 Broadway Market where the trio were paying tribute to Ahmad Jamal's legendary Live at the Pershing album recorded at the Pershing Lounge, Chicago, in 1958.

It only took one number to know I'd be staying! 

Webb stays close enough to Jamal's style without losing his own identity - fewer spaces for a start. Russell had previously waxed eloquently about him on one of Adrian Cox's Sunday Services and his approval wasn't unfounded.

Drums and bass slotted in perfectly. Ireland undoubtedly the bassman for the job both in rhythm and  solo whilst Jason Brown drove like a man possessed and possessed he was - possessed with skills to die for (well almost!).

I don't think they played all of the tunes from the album and I'm not sure that all of the tunes that they did play were from the album but it didn't matter, this was still an ideal piano trio paying their due respect to one of the all-time greats who is still with us. Surprisingly, when Webb announced Poinciana - Jamal's best known number - as the one they'd all been waiting for, the audience responded with silence! They must have been a very young audience. Needless to say, they made up for it afterwards!

Nice one Smitty! - Ronnie's? Never heard of it!

Lance

But Not For Me; Gone With the Wind: Cherokee; Music, Music, Music; I'm Old Fashioned; What's New?; The Best Thing For You; Poinciana.

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