Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

Sun 18: Louis Louis Louis @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 2:00pm (doors). £15.00. Swing, jump jive, rhythm & blues. Fundraiser for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Sun 18: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Rod Sinclair.
Sun 18: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Herdman-Strong Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Saturday, April 03, 2021

KSTV: Playback session - Thelonious Monk's Underground. April 3

Alec Harper (tenor sax); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Will Sach (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums) + Ella Hohnen-Ford (vocals)

The first in Kansas Smitty's new once a week, Saturday evening live stream schedule presented Thelonious Monk's Underground album. Jack and Giacomo engaged tenor saxophonist Alec Harper (Charlie Rouse) in a pre-performance chat to get a feel for how tonight's band would approach the music of the legendary composer-pianist. Harper cited melody saying Monk was always playing the melody. 


And so to Monk's Underground. Deschanel Gordon had it all to do. The BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year laid down a marker on Thelonious which Harper was quick to pick up on, the Wills (Sach and Cleasby) purring like contented (jazz) cats. And straight in to Ugly Beauty, the live stream audio as good as it could possibly be. Monk's blues, Raise Four, heard Gordon comping like a good 'un behind Harper's sinewy tenor solo before taking a Monkian solo of his own. 

The boys were joined by Ella Hohnen-Ford to sing Round Midnight (a departure from the studio album). Wow! Check out Ms Hohnen-Ford. Giacomo couldn't resist chatting to Deschanel. Our pianist was in awe of Monk's ability to make the dissonant sound beautiful saying: I don't know how he did it. And on to Green Chimneys, Harper swinging, Deschanel knocking out the solo of the night, drummer Will Cleasby clattering an ace solo of his own. 

Boo Boo's Birthday presented bassist Will Sach with a first opportunity to solo, albeit briefly, Will Cleasby swinging it, cool as you like. In Walked Love (yes, retitled) with lyrics by Rosie Byrne, closed a marvellous set, Hohnen-Ford singing and scatting in and around Harper and co. An excellent set. 
Russell

Set list: Thelonious; Ugly Beauty; Raise Four; Boo Boo's Birthday; Green Chimneys; In Walked Love.  
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