Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Sun 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Heugh Battery, Hartlepool. 11:00am-12 noon & 1:00-2:00pm.
Sun 04: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 04: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Bill Watson (trumpet).
Sun 04: Sax Choir w. Rachel Musson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: Rivkala + Ceitidh Mac + Thatcher & Knowles @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. A NFOJAIM event.
Sun 04: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED from September 27.
Sun 04: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 04: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £3.00.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Thursday, April 08, 2021

Midweek at Small's

Tim Armacost-Gabrielle Stravelli Quintet - April 6

(Screenshot by Russell)
Tim Armacost (tenor sax); Gabrielle Stravelli (vocals); Art Hirahara (piano); Pat O'Leary (double bass); Eric Halvorson (drums) 

A set of songs comprising original numbers and arrangements of familiar jazz and pop material, Ms Stravelli penning lyrics to songs with her songwriting partner Jason Robinson. For the most part Armacost's tenor didn't get out of second gear, this was to be a supporting role for the man who has worked with Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove and in the big bands of Maria Schneider and David Murray, to name just a few. 
From Gerry Mulligan's Walking Shoes to this evening's pianist, Art Hirahara's Brooklyn Express, the quintet presented a varied set list, varied to the extent that it included an uptempo reworking of Imagine. Stravelli sang lyrics to Ellington's Warm Valley and the award-winning actor-vocalist showed her versatility on the set-closer, the Fred Hersch-Norma Winstone number Song of Life. 

Erena Terakubo Quartet - April 7

(Screenshot by Russell)
Erena Terakubo (alto sax); Paul Bollenback (guitar); Akiko Tsuruga (organ); Fukushi Tainaka (drums)

Erena Terakubo, another new name on BSH's radar. Ms Terakubo plays alto saxophone and what a player she is! On this side of the Atlantic we have our share of hotshot alto players, America has more than its share and Ms Terakubo is one of them!  An at times incendiary set comprised original material and a classic bop chart or two. Terakubo's quartet featured the great Paul Bollenback playing guitar despite his guitar strap snapping early in the set. Bollenback remarked it was a first for him in a long career. Perched atop a stool, Bollenback played some fine guitar, dovetailing with organist Akiko Tsuruga. The man behind the traps, Fukushi Tainaka is no stranger, Mr T works with tenor saxophonist Nick Hempton. 

Original compositions Little Girl Power and Sweet Love of Mine opened the set. Ms Terakubo declared Cannonball Adderley her favourite alto player, the quartet played an Adderley chart, somewhat in a samba vein. Everything Happens to Me revealed Terakubo to be a fine ballad player, Sam Jones' Bitter Sweet found Bollenback cruising in the fast lane with Terakubo pulling up alongside. This was the business! And if that wasn't enough, this Small's session went out with all bebop guns blazing on Things to Come. Remember the name, Erena Terakubo.        Russell
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