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

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

Thursday, April 01, 2021

Joe Downard Quartet: livestream from Ronnie's - April 1

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Joe Downard (bass); Alex Hitchcock (tenor sax); Noah Stoneman (piano); Luca Caruso (drums).

Four young and extremely talented musicians playing a programme of original music composed by Joe, Alex and Noah - Luca content to be the power behind the throne.

Normally I cringe in horror at the thought of over an hour of original music. Every great instrumentalist isn't a great composer and, likewise, every great composer isn't a hotshot musician - at least that's the way it used to be back in the day when composers beavered away in garrets and jazz musicians honed their trade in sleazy clubs and bars learning to read music from a guy who played second alto in the band at the Saturday night hop.

Today, it's all so different. Musicians go to music schools and colleges where men and women who once played second alto at a Saturday night hop are now tutorial gurus with letters after their names and, having themselves accrued the knowledge and obtained the diplomas, send their protégés out into the real world.

That the system works was proven by tonight's quartet who'd variously came through the recognised ranks of NYJO, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, The Royal Academy of Music and the Peter Whittingham Award. It certainly beat the back room at Joe's Bar and yet ...

No room for nostalgia tonight, not even in Times Square. This was as modern as it gets without losing the plot and, with such able pilots steering the ship, Titanic won't be added to their repertoire!

(Collage by Ken Drew)
Stoneman and Hitchcock both have an amazing technique that could probably outstrip that of their predecessors and when/if they achieve an identifiable individual sound they will make the past (wait for it!) history.

I didn't catch all of the titles but it doesn't matter as they were all original and, mostly being premiered.

The future is in good hands. Lance

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