Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Friday, April 23, 2021

Spike Wilner Trio live streaming from Smalls, NYC - April 22

Spike Wilner (piano); Tyler Mitchell (double bass); Anthony Pinciotti (drums) + Mike Fahn (valve trombone); Joe Magnarelli (trumpet)

On the eve of Spike Wilner's new album release, the man who runs Smalls and Mezzrow in Greenwich Village, pulled rank to play a gig at the latter venue. The pianist's regular trio partners, Tyler Mitchell, bass, and drummer Anthony Pinciotti, were there with him and later in the set he would be joined by two special guests. 

A Brubeckian waltz time-like number - Odalisque - opened the set, a set played out in front of a real, albeit small, audience, max fifteen lucky people, rather than the usual seventy plus who would cram in to the 183 West 10th St basement performance space. Wilner engaged the faithful few, seemingly reluctant to mention he had new a album to promote! 

Wilner's Adagio from the new album (Aliens & Wizards) sounded all the better, no doubt due to the presence of a living, breathing audience, the musicians communicating with little more than a glance, a nod. The trio's swinging set met with vociferous applause (it had been a long time!) and it got better still with the introduction of two special guests. First up, valve trombonist Mike Fahn (Bob Cooper, Pete Christlieb, Maynard Ferguson, Tom Kubis and countless others) slotted in nicely to play It Could Happen to You, joined by Smalls' regular trumpeter Joe Magnarelli (Lionel Hampton, Jack McDuff, Toshiko Akiyoshi, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra etc). 

The guest horns would feature on one more. Setting a swift tempo, Mezzrow's boss called a blues in Eb, effortlessly comping between Magnarelli and Fahn's solos before the horns momentarily stepped aside, leaving the stage to the trio to show how its done. To close out the set Wilner played Round Midnight. It had been another excellent night in NYC. More from the Smalls-Mezzrow set-up tonight and every night until further notice! And, in case you missed it, Spike Wilner's new album - Aliens & Wizards - is available from today on the Cellar Music Group label. Recommended.         
Russell   
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