Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

Will Arnold-Forster Trio live streaming from Kansas Smitty's - Jan. 6

Will Arnold-Forster (guitar); Tom Farmer (bass); Jas Kayser (drums).

(Screenshot courtesy of Ken Drew)

After the frenetic blowing sessions of the past couple of nights, tonight offered a relaxing contrast so, appropriately, I opted for a soupcon of Sauvignon Blanc as opposed to a can (or 3) of Abbot Ale.

Tonight's theme was the music of Jim Hall by way of his own compositions or songs he'd recorded. 

The trio opened with Receipt Please and Romaine followed by Skating in Central Park. The arco bass solo on the latter number sounded almost like a cello - Tom's fingers were right up at what embryo bassists would call the dusty end! Skating in Central Park has a lovely chord sequence that reminds me of an old MJQ number which isn't surprising as MJQ leader John Lewis composed both! 

Love Letters always reminds me of You Stepped Out of a Dream although, strangely, never vice versa! Will (yet another one - change your name to Will and you'll get a gig here!) erroneously attributed Love Letters to Vincent Youmans when actually it was composed by Victor Young (still, he did get the initials right!)

A Jim Hall original, Bimini, had Jas working out - oh baby she's got it!

Deep in a Dream has long been a fave of mine since I first heard it sung by Helen Forrest on an Artie Shaw record. I think both Artie and Helen, along with Jim Hall, would have approved of this version and, indeed, the whole show.

The final number was an unannounced blues that followed the previous path - ace!
Lance

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