Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

KSTV: Deschanel Gordon Trio - Feb. 10

Deschanel Gordon (piano); Will Sach (bass); Will Cleasby (drums).

(Screenshot by Ken Drew).

I sometimes wonder about the injustice of the jazz world. Live streams from Ronnie's often top the four figure mark and yet Smitty's rarely hits three figures on the night. This is unfortunate as KS, operating Tuesday to Saturday, invariably presents jazz of the highest quality and I would have thought that some of those who log on to Ronnie's on a Monday might go to Smitty's on a Tuesday or a Wednesday but ...

Tonight, like last night, was another delightful session. Two 'comers' on the jazz piano scene - Stoneman last night - and Gordon tonight provided ample proof of jazz's ability to survive against all odds.

I was unfamiliar with Bud Powell's Celia until Stoneman played it last night so it came as a surprise when Gordon played it tonight - coincidence?

It was one of the best numbers last night and one of the best numbers tonight. Who won? Let's call it a score draw!

We also heard, Roy Hargrove's Top of my Head, Golson's Whisper Not, Mulgrew Miller's Grew's Tune which segued into an amazing I Hear a Rhapsody. The tension built up to an orgasmic climax maintained by Cleasby's drums that left us on an ultra high.

I'm Confessin'  brought us down to earth as Gordon went into one of his trademark party pieces - a mix of Fats, Garner, Monk, Chico Marx and maybe Charlie Kunz all rolled into one. It was great the first two or three times I heard it but, to my ears, the joke's getting a little thin.

Still, the unannounced finale, which may have been an original, more than made up for it and the trio went out swinging.

Nice one ...
Lance
at

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