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 29, 2020

Strictly Smokin' live stream lockdown #4. Prohibition Bar - Nov. 29

Graham Don (keyboards); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums).

(Photo courtesy of Michael Lamb)

The fourth and supposedly final Strictly Smokin' live stream in this short lockdown series from Mitch's gaff on Pink Line gave the boys in the engine room an opportunity to show what they could do away from the band's all-star horns.* Graham, Pav, Michael and Guy, observing social distancing guidelines, scribbled out a set list of some of their favourite tunes and played them. A simple format and it worked. 
Billy Cobham's Red Baron for openers, cruisin' and a-groovin'. Bernie Miller's Bernie's Tune, a jam session staple, similarly Benny Golson's Killer Joe (Graham Don's 'killer' solo), kept things in a mid-to-uptempo groove. Bobby Womack's Breezin', famously recorded by George Benson, featured Pav on guitar (Michael Whent supplying the bottom end bass line). Herbie Hancock's lyrical Dolphin Dance featured Mr D on keys, Freddie Hubbard's waltz Up Jumped Spring kept things moving along, Pav stating the melody, Graham once again in the soloist's spotlight. 

Eddie Harris' Cold Duck Time with Pav in Larry Carlton-John Scofield mode turned it up a notch, Michael grabbing a rare solo a la Jaco, Guy taking it out. Time for one more - Sco's Hottentot from A Go Go (check out the album - Sco with Medeski, Martin and Wood), Pav killing! And, as Guy said 'good night' at a couple of minutes to three in the afternoon, we chuckled! Why not gan back to bed, Guy?! See you at GCT on December 19!   

* As tier 3 kicks in, the anticipated return to live gigs, albeit with much-reduced audience numbers, has been put on hold. Lockdown #5 will happen - watch this space!       

Russell  
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