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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

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

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