Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Sunday, November 01, 2020

Adrian Cox's Sunday Service Bechet Special from Toulouse Lautrec, London - Nov. 1

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Joe Webb (piano) 

Hot! Hot! Hot! These guys are great live and this afternoon's live stream came a close second to the 'real thing'. Cox, recently returned from a trip to Scandinavia, once again made good use of Toulouse Lautrec's piano with Joe Webb rattling the 88s. From Milenburg Joys to Si Tu Vois, Ma Mère, Cox proved, if proof were needed, that he is one of the clarinet greats of his generation. 
Cox and Webb ran headlong into Running Wild, the duo remarkably fluent, sheet music not required, they knew the number inside out. Cox sang, no mic, cupped hand hollerin' into the virtual void. Marvellous stuff. Today's subject - Sidney Bechet - recorded Kansas City Man Blues way back in 1923. Cox sure can play a mean blues, likewise his sparring partner Webb. The sheer enthusiasm Cox generates is infectious and both Webb and the online audience responded accordingly - pianist Webb at the top of his game, the eighty plus virtual contingent posting approving comments second-by-second.

Cox comes across as a canny bloke: casual, engaging, favouring enthusiasm over expertise when talking about Bechet's recording sessions, his contemporaries and well-documented European sojourn. Cue Claude Luter, Paris and Moulin à Café. Monty Sunshine tango-ing to Petite Fleur, a dedication to Adrian's sister produced a highlight - I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate with superb vocals - then another highlight (the Sunday Service is one big highlight) in the form of a scintillating That's a Plenty. 

Time for two more - Jazz Me Blues then, taking it down, and out, Si Tu Vois, Ma Mère. To coin a favourite Keith Nichols' phrase, 'tear arse' can be readily applied to Cox. The up tempo tune holds no fears and, when the occasion demands, balladry is well within his compass. Cox and Webb are great value, as and when they're out gigging again make a point of catching them, you won't be disappointed.        

Russell
       
Today's setlist: Milenberg Joys ; Running Wild; Kansas City Man Blues; Buddy Bolden Stomp; Moulin à Café; Petite Fleur; I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate; That's a Plenty; Jazz Me Blues; Si Tu Vois, Ma Mère   
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