Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October. Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Live at Joe's: Jaki Byard - Mar. 13

Joe Webb (piano)

Joe Webb's Saturday afternoon live stream sessions continue to attract new online listeners. Last week's live stream set focused on the music of Erroll Garner, today Joe looked at the work of Jaki Byard. The late American's career was nothing short of impressive: a multi-instrumentalist, piano his main instrument, an affinity with ragtime and stride pianists and a commitment to free jazz, many recordings as a bandleader (trio to big band), sideman jobs with Maynard Ferguson, Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus and others. So, plenty for pianist Joe Webb to take a look at!

Bop from the first notes on Chandra seamlessly incorporating stride patterns, a great start to this afternoon's live stream! Webb's casual commentary pieced together a set of eight tunes. Besame Mucho from Byard's Parisian Solos early seventies' album, Dedicated to Bob Vatel of the Ten Gallons (Byard's tribute to fellow pianist Bob Vatel) from the same recording featured more stunning stride piano playing. Online comments were most complimentary about Webb's mastery of his instrument. Our live streamer said it had taken twenty years of practice to get him to this point in his career. At the age of thirty one time is on his side, perhaps he'll improve! 

'Round Midnight is a tune Webb hadn't played until today. Of course he knew the tune, but this was, in effect, a first time performance. Randy Weston's Hi-Fly from Byard's album of the same name posed few problems for Webb, humming the melody as he went without the need to refer to the sheet music in front of him, a fleeting quote from Monk's 'Round Midnight. Quite remarkable. 

Aluminum Baby from Byard's first album referenced A Night in Tunisia featuring truly spectacular playing by Webb. Excerpts from 'Yamecraw' (once again from Byard's Hi-Fly album) appeared to pay homage to James P Johnson's Yamecraw. In closing, Webb remembered to plug this evening's 'Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington' set from Kansas Smitty's at eight o'clock. Webb playing One Two Five, was, as they say, something else! If nothing else, check out this last number on Joe's Facebook page, you won't believe how he did it!      
Russell     

Set list: Chandra; Besame Mucho; Dedicated to Bob Vatel of the Ten Gallons; 'Round Midnight; Hi-Fly; Aluminum Baby; Excerpts from 'Yamecraw'; One Two Five
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