Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

Live stream: Kansas City @ Kansas Smitty's - Dec. 2

Joe Webb (piano); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Sach (bass); Jas Kayser (drums)

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

Tonight's theme was Count Basie's All-American rhythm section, the name given to the four musicians who underpinned the roaring big band that set Kansas City alight during the 1930s. Bill Basie, Freddie Green, Walter Page and Jo Jones may seem a hard act to follow but homework had been done and our All-British (well 75%) rhythm section did the business.

The ringer, Will Sach, ex NYC, did the announcements and played bass to suit. Needless to say that Joe Webb, who can handle just about any style, slotted into the Count's mode seamlessly whilst Jas Kayser, playing mainly brushes, was right on the money.

This was just so therapeutic and I don't mean Easy Listening although it was easy to listen to. Count Basie, after being asked, what makes good jazz replied: Four beats to the bar and no cheatin'.

We got that tonight!

Freddie Green, although possibly the greatest rhythm guitarist in big band jazz at that time, wasn't a soloist which mean't that Dave Archer didn't solo although he too laid down that Freddie Green style chord foundation. 

In my dreams, I was imagining Lester Young suddenly appearing and turning it into the Kansas City Five - maybe someday one of the KS tenor players will give it a whirl!

I didn't catch all of the titles, partly because I was switching back and forward twixt YT and FB trying to work out which of the two froze the least - it seemed to be about 51/49 YT - and Sach didn't always announce the titles but, never mind, the numbers I did note included such classics as Jive at Five; Handful of Keys; Jumpin' at the Woodside and L'il Darlin'. What memories I have of this latter tune! Lying in bed, late one night listening to Willis Conover on the Voice of America (in special English). I rushed out the next day and bought The Atomic Mr Basie! I also remember Ronnie McLean telling me, after Alan Price had sat in at the New Orleans Club, that Pricey didn't know the chords to L'il Darlin'!

So to sum up, another great set from KS in front of a live audience which is what we all want for Christmas - a live gig to go to without having to eat a Scotch egg!

Lance

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