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

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
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.

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

KSTV: More great live music - March 23

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Joe Webb (piano); Will Arnold-Forster (guitar); Will Sach (bass).

A delightful vignette that may not have had the instant appeal of a Playback Session but to those in the know - in other words the regular KSTV viewers - the line-up in itself was sufficient temptation to forego all others.

Joe and the two Wills laid down a choice selection of goodies from the repertoires of Nat Cole, pianist John Lewis, Duke Ellington, Jim Hall (by way of Bob Hope), Fats Waller, Charlie Parker and Art Tatum.

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Call the Police, a number from the Nat Cole Trio. When it comes to playing Nat Cole Joe Webb's your man. I first heard the  riff song from the 1940s on an early Decca LP and, from then on, Mona Lisa and Too Young became back numbers. This was the 'real' King Cole and, even though he didn't sing, Joe Webb did him proud - not to mention the Wills who did likewise with Oscar Moore and Wesley Prince.

2 Degrees East - 3 Degrees West, John Lewis recorded this with Bill Perkins and Jim Hall. Even without Bill Perkins this version stood up.

In a Sentimental Mood, arguably the best of Duke's ballads. That middle eight really makes it extra special. Tonight it was extra special too!

Thanks For the Memory. A great tune, tonight's performance was based on a version by Jim Hall - whenever you have a jazz guitarist on a gig Jim is never far away - but, for us of 'a certain age', it's Bob Hope singing it to Shirley Ross in The Big Broadcast of 1938.

Jitterbug Waltz. When it comes to playing Fats Waller, Joe Webb's your man.

Yardbird Suite. The most melodically satisfying of all Parker's compositions. The trio got it absolutely spot on. The unison passages by guitar and piano in perfect sync.

(Collage by Ken Drew)
Cocktails For Two. When it comes to playing Art Tatum, Joe Webb's your man. It was a great finale to a great set by three of the greatest on the London scene.

But again, the eternal question, why the disparity in numbers between Smitty's and Ronnies?  Apart from Thursdays they're on different nights so there's no clash of interests and both offer top names on a pay what you can afford basis.

Lance

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