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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Pete Roth Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm. Feat. Bill Bruford.

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Ten British pianists who moved to America.

Ronnie Ball (1927 - 1984): Left for America in 1952. Played with Chuck Wayne, Kai Winding, Roy Eldridge, JATP, Buddy Rich, Warne Marsh, Art Pepper. More.

Victor Feldman (1934 - 1987): Left for America in 1955. Played with Woody Herman, Cannonball Adderley, Buddy De Franco, Mils Davis, Peggy Lee. More.

Dill Jones (1923 - 1984): Left for America in 1961. Played with Jimmy McPartland, Budd Johnson and other mainstreamers. More.

Marian McPartland (1918  - 2013): Left for America in 1945 after marrying trumpet Jimmy McPartland. More.

Ray Noble (1903 - 1978): Left for America in 1934. Formed big band that included Glenn Miller. Composer of Cherokee, The Very Thought of You, The Touch of Your Lips among others. More.

Joe Saye (1923 - ?): Left for America in 1955. Accompanied Dakota Staton and recorded with Barry Galbraith, Mundell Lowe, Herbie Manne and many others. More.

Ralph Sharon (1923 - 2015): Left for America in 1953. Long time accompanist (1958 - 2003) to Tony Bennett. More.

George Shearing (1919 - 2011): Left for America in 1947. Formed poll-winning quintet and recorded with many top singers such as Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Joe Williams and Mel Tormé. More.

Derek Smith (1931 - 2016): Left for America 1957. Many trio recordings, studio sessions,  toured with Benny Goodman, appeared at Newport with Dizzy Gillespie. More.

Eddie Thompson (1925 - 1986): Worked in America 1962 - 1972 including long residency at The Hickory House in Manhattan. Like Saye and Shearing he didn't allow his blindness to interfere with his career. More.

There were, of course, others most notably Dudley Moore although his success in America was as an actor rather than as a pianist. Sadly all of the above are now deceased. Are there any living Brits over there now making a name as a pianist?

Lance



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