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

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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).

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, March 31, 2021

Start the Week at Small's - Mar. 29 & Mar. 30

(Screenshot by Russell)
Brandi Disterheft Quartet - Mar. 29

Vincent Herring (alto sax); Anthony Wonsey (piano); Brandi Disterheft (double bass, vocals); Joe Farnsworth (drums) + Antoine Drye (trumpet)

Brandi Disterheft proudly counts Oscar Peterson as one of her early career supporters. Based in New York, the Canadian bassist gigs around town and this evening at Small's she brought in a quartet to play a set of original compositions and standards. Alto saxophonist Vincent Herring (Nat Adderley, Cedar Walton, Dizzy, Art Blakey) was the big draw and he wasn't about to disappoint.   

Anthony Wonsey is one of NYC's busiest pianists and on this showing it isn't difficult to understand why that is the case. Similarly, drummer Joe Farnsworth has long since been on the Big Apple's A-list. Wonsey brought in Parisian Thoroughfare with Herring's fiery alto playing a set highlight. Moonlight in Vermont took it down, followed by some finger-busting piano playing on Disterheft's recently penned tune, Coup de Foudre, featuring the bandleader's vocals. An excellent set.          

(Screenshot by Russell)
Arcoiris Sandoval's Sonic Asylum Quintet - Mar. 30 

Roxy Coss (tenor sax); Lucas Pino (soprano sax); Arcoiris Sandoval (piano); Marty Kenney (double bass); Allan Mednard (drums) + Alison Yap (guitar) 

Monday evening Anthony Wonsey made a big impression, Tuesday evening another superb pianist gigged at 183 West 10th St. Bandleader Arcoiris Sandoval's first house set comprising five numbers (four original compositions plus a McCoy Tyner chart) featured three or four musicians new to BSH, Sandoval included. The one known name, Allan Mednard, recently heard here in Greenwich Village with Jeremy Pelt, is as impressive a drummer as any. 

The horns - Roxy Cross, tenor, and Lucas Pino, soprano sax - appeared to appreciate one another's contributions, perhaps they were revelling in playing a rare gig! McCoy Tyner's The Mountain performed as a piano, bass and drums trio gave the reeds a rest, otherwise Sandoval's charts involved all on the stand. Spiral into Oblivion could be read as a commentary on these pandemic times, whatever, its title sat comfortably with the band's name, Arcoiris Sandoval's Sonic Asylum Quintet!         
Russell

Set list: Journey to Agartha; Horizon; Spiral into Oblivion; The Mountain; Absence of Free Will.  
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