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

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.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Kansas Smitty's Main Man plays Sidney Bechet - April 10

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
The Main Man is back in harness. An unscheduled, extended visit to his home town in America kept Giacomo Smith out of Kansas Smitty's spotlight for longer than he anticipated. Tonight's session focused on the music of Sidney Bechet with particular reference to the legendary musician's Paris sojourn. An inventive, additional aspect to this evening's live stream was an imagining of Bechet meeting Django Reinhardt. The two icons were living in the French capital at the same time but never recorded together and perhaps never met one another.  

Smith and his Kansas Smitty's all star band didn't anticipate YouTube failing altogether. Some how or other a substantial online audience migrated to Facebook and, there they were, ready to go. A case of 'better late than never'. Petite Fleur opened the show. It could be said the much played number was got out of the way early on in the proceedings! Pete Horsfall (Louis Armstrong) was in the house, for the most part playing a supporting role, after all, this was the Smith/Bechet show. 

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)
Clarinet or soprano sax, Giacomo Smith gave a convincing performance - Bechet Lives! Dan Higham's trombone feature on September Song won applause from his band mates, similarly Harry Diplock's guest appearance in the guise of Django picked up plaudits, drummer Will Cleasby took the honours on Marchand de Poissons and the ensemble as a whole couldn't have done more. A great, albeit delayed, set drew to a close with Si Tu Vois Ma Mère.              
Russell

Giacomo Smith (clarinet, soprano sax); Pete Horsfall (trumpet); Dan Higham (trombone); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Barry (piano); Tom Farmer (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums) + Harry Diplock (guitar).
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