Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £TBC.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Greg Hatza ORGANisation live streaming from Keystone Korner - Dec. 19 (through Christmas)

Greg Hatza (organ); Brian Kooken (guitar); Benny Russell (tenor sax); Robert Shahid (drums) 

Keystone Korner in San Francisco hosted performances by some of the all time greats, releasing countless celebrated 'live' albums along the way (Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Roland Kirk, Sonny Stitt et al). Over in Baltimore, Maryland its less illustrious namesake isn't doing too badly with a schedule of top class performers stretching into next year. 
Greg Hatza was just a 'name' to me no more, the classic organ-led line-up appealed, and for the modest charge of $11.80., it was worth a punt signing up to this year-end live stream. Hatza first recorded in the late sixties in the company of Eric Gale and Grady Tate, in the seventies focussing on keyboards until hearing Joey DeFrancesco in the nineties which prompted a return to the organ, since when the ORGANisation has been a preoccupation. 

Hatza's band mates - Brian Kooken, guitar, Benny Russell, tenor sax, Robert Shahid, drums - proved to be a well-oiled working unit. Hatza's Baltimore Strut opened the set and two of the following three numbers were also originals - From Me to You and a funky-fuelled Stinky. The familiar tune, What Child is This? (the Greensleeves melody), featured tenor saxophonist Benny Russell in turbo-charged mode, likewise guitarist Kooken shredding with more than a hint of seventies-style fusion to his playing.

The Masquerade is Over (stock tenor sax phrases, no bad thing!), McGriff's Blues swung as it should, Matza, Kooken and Russell soloing, Shahid busy covering all bases. As it's the time of year few would begrudge God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, especially as Russell blew some old-school tenor. A couple of blues to close in the vein of Jimmys McGriff and Smith and a touch of Ray Charles. Some ninety five minutes later the Greg Hatzma ORGANisation went out on Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.  
Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive