Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

JANUARY 2026

Thu 01: ???

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

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Midweek at Small's, NYC (Mar. 8-10)

Ethan Iverson Trio - Mar. 8

Ethan Iverson (piano); Thomas Morgan (double bass); Andrew Cyrille (drums)

A Bud Powell set this evening beginning with Monk's Well, You Needn't. Pianist Ethan Iverson was clearly delighted to have Andrew Cyrille on board, a man who knew Monk and Powell (Iverson said Cyrille had stories to tell of meeting the bop icons, but here at Small's wasn't the time or place!). From Bouncin' with Bud to Like Someone in Love and the set-closing 52nd Street Theme, the trio worked empathetically, Iverson suggesting in Morgan and Cyrille that there isn't a better rhythm section on the NYC scene. 

Set list: Well, You Needn'tBouncin' with BudBud's BluesWailI'll Keep Loving YouLike Someone in LoveReets and I52nd Street Theme

Mike Karn Quintet - Mar. 9 

Joe Magnarelli (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nick Green (alto sax); Ehud Asherie (piano); Mike Karn (double bass); Charles Goold (drums)

Mike Karn played tenor sax for twenty years working with some high profile musicians including Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr. and legendary bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi. Making the switch to double bass, the New Yorker went on to work with many other big names, Jimmy Heath, Freddy Cole and John Pizzarelli, to name but three.

Hank Mobley's Third Time Around signalled a swinging bop session and that's precisely what transpired. The horns - Joe Magnarelli, trumpet, Nick Green, alto sax - swapped solos as they stepped on and off the cramped stage area. Pianist Ehud Asherie and bandleader Mike Karn contributed ace solos of their own, drummer Charles Goold expertly navigating a course for this most accomplished quintet. An excellent set. 

Set list: Third Time Around; GypsyLoverRuby, My DearBlues 'n' BoogieRemember

Jérôme Sabbagh Quartet - Mar. 10 

Jérôme Sabbagh (tenor sax); Ben Monder (guitar); Joe Martin (double bass); Nasheet Waits (drums)

New York based French saxophonist and composer Jérôme Sabbagh has recorded several albums during the last twenty five years. Two of his regular collaborators - guitarist Ben Monder and bassist Joe Martin - were with him on this live stream set from Small's, as was the not too shabby Nasheet Waits on drums! 

A selection of five of the bandleader's compositions from 2014's The Turn (the title tune and the ballad Long Gone), through to Stand Up and, said Sabbagh, a newer tune (Élson's Energy?), would prove to be anything but a showcase for Sabbagh. 

The uptempo Vintage featured Waits, the remainder of the set favoured Ben Monder rather than the bandleader whose preference appeared to be in setting the tone and direction of each piece.   
Russell

Set list: The TurnLong Gone; VintageStand Up ?

No comments :

Blog Archive