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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

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

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Ten Jazz Commandments (Amended)

A while back I posted my ten favourite Art Pepper tracks and asked readers to send me their ten favourite jazz "whatevers". Ann Alex responded with her ten favourite jazz songs and Steve T, who never does things by half-measure, provide an audio presentation of his TWENTY favourite jazz funk tracks but, since then, no one else has responded. It shouldn't be too hard - most of us have five digits on each hand to help us so, come on, get your fingers out and start counting!

In the meantime, to keep the ball rolling here's my Ten Jazz Commandments.

1) Thou shall not take the name of Lord Armstrong of Storyville in vain.

2)  Thou shall not worship false gods such as John, Paul, George and Ringo.

3) Thou shall not steal thy neighbour's licks, nor his chords, nor his progressions unless they are superior to your own.

4) Thou shall not leave the gig until you have helped to carry out the drums, the keyboards and the bandleader.

5) Thou shall not consume alcohol during the gig unless it is free.

6) Thou shall not ask your fellow musicians to play in keys with a surplus of sharps and flats.

7) Thou shall not sing.

8) Thou shall not use a banjo for any reason other than in self-defence.

9) Thou shall read your BSH daily - morning, noon and night.

10) Thou shall not commit adultery unless the opportunity arises.

Lance

4 comments :

Steve T said...

I can only add ten more false Gods (though none anywhere near the same league as yours), but to keep it interesting, I haven't named them, though I've listed them in rough chronologic order.

If you've guessed who they are, it's probably because I'm right:

1. The busker in black.
2. Grotesquely over-rated songwriter.
3. But are they a boyband or a novelty act?
4. Not a good teenie group like the fabs, nor a proper rock group like Cream.
5. One amongst many fantastic reggae acts.
6. Silly outfits and haircuts, dreadful voice, gimmicky, novelty and a bit teenie.
7. Classic rock, metal, prog, pop, dead nominal leader. God forbid, another Beatles under construction!
8. Worst manufactured band ever, and it was deliberate.
9. Thinking mans punkrock an oxymoron.
10.We're miserable so it must be meaningful.


Patti said...

Ha - thinking about this - 10 must be The Smiths and/or Morrisey.

Steve T said...

Yip. Hope you're well Patti.

Steve T said...

Topical Top Ten Jazz-Funk Acts.

1. Crusaders.
2. Donald Byrd.
3. George Benson.
4. Grover Washington Jnr.
5. Ramsey Lewis.
6. Ronnie Laws.
7. Eddie Henderson.
8. Herbie Hancock.
9. Roy Ayers.
10.Bob James.

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