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

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: 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 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

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.

Monday, November 16, 2020

Georgia Cécile: Live stream from 606 Club, EFG London Jazz Festival - Nov. 15

Georgia Cécile (vocals); Euan Stevenson (keyboards); Mario Caribé (double bass); Max Popp (drums).

Winner of Best Scottish Jazz Vocalist 2019, Georgia Cécile was all set to head south for her London Jazz Festival appearance at the 606 Club when Covid-19 restrictions dictated she would have to perform online from north of the border. The Lots Road, Chelsea, partner venue of LJF 2020 required viewers to sign up and make a modest payment to access the stream. That done, we awaited the eight o'clock start.
Ms Cécile took to the stage with her A-list band: pianist Euan Stevenson, bassist Mario Caribé, and Scottish-resident Chicagoan, drummer Max Popp. Against a backdrop of the 606 Club's banner, Glaswegian Cécile sang a selection of standards interspersed with several original compositions. Exactly Like You opened the set - expression, invention, superb jazz singing. Jule Styne contributed two songs to Cécile's set (Time After Time and I Fall in Love Too Easily) which also included You Turned the Tables on Me, three timeless numbers sung by a young, twenty first century star in the making. Ms Cécile's original compositions, notably Month of May and Bitter Sweet, offered contrast, if not comparison, to the GASbook numbers. 

Euan Stevenson is a first call pianist on the Scottish jazz scene and beyond, simultaneously an individual creative voice and accomplished old school accompanist. Mario Caribé, for many years an established bassist on the scene since leaving Brazil to study in Scotland and subsequently making the country his home, exuded sensitivity. Our vocalist couldn't have chosen a better bass player to work with. And then there is Max Popp, this evening resplendent in dickie bow-tie. At one point during her set Cécile rightly complimented her drummer for his beautiful brushwork. This LJF set of approximately seventy five minutes will have given invaluable global exposure to Ms Cécile. Her star is very much in the ascendant. 

Georgia Cécile has a new album in the works and hopes to tour throughout next year. Watch this space!  
Russell

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