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.

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Is the Beeb feeling alright?

This weekend BBC 4 does jazz proud. Friday night (Nov 13) is devoted to Ella Fitzgerald. At nine o'clock director Leslie Woodhead's 2019 documentary film Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things takes an affectionate look at Ella's life and career. Ella Fitzgerald Sings follows at 10:30. In a performance from 1965 Ella is seen and heard in concert with the Johnny Spence Orchestra. And at 11:10 Ella is in action once more in Jazz Divas Gold. This time Ella shares the billing with a who's who of female jazz singers including Diahann Carroll, Betty Carter, Cleo Laine, Marion Montgomery and Annie Ross

There's more...on Sunday evening (Nov 15) Ronnie Scott's takes centre stage. Once again on BBC 4, the action gets under way at 9:00pm. Ronnie's: Ronnie Scott and His World-Famous Jazz club is director Oliver Murray's 2020 film about the Soho, London jazz club (which has played host to just about every big name you can think of, tune in to find out which ones Ronnie's didn't manage to get) and its proprietor - musician, wit and raconteur, Mr Ronnie Scott. At 10:45 Ella Fitzgerald at Ronnie Scott's is a repeat of Alan Yentob's film of Ella's 1974 Frith Street performance. And to close a weekend feast of jazz, Jazz Horns Gold (11:25) is a welcome repeat of archive performances by the likes of Stan GetzColeman Hawkins and Roland Kirk.
Russell               

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