Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

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 AgarthaHorizonSpiral into OblivionThe MountainAbsence of Free Will.  

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