Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

May

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.
Fri 08: Salty Dog @ Station East, Hills Street, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.

Sat 09: The Vieux Carré Hot 4 'Festival of Blossom' @ Seaton Delaval Hall National Trust. 12:30 - 3.00pm. Free event (admission applies).
Sat 09: SH#RP Collective w. Lindsay Hannon @ Church of Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00 (inc. a welcome drink). Advance booking essential. Bring own snacks, drinks to be purchased at ‘donations’ bar. All proceeds to charity. A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sat 09: East Coast Swing Band @ Jubilee Hall, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £10.00.

Sun 10: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 12 noon. Free. Note earlier start.
Sun 10: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 10: The Chet Set @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.
Sun 10: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 11: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 12: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Hey Remember This @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 14: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Philip Larkin’s Jazz Experiment.
Thu 14: Jerron Paxton @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb country blues.
Thu 14: Jacob Egglestone @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums) & guests.

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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