Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Joey DeFranceso plays the Van Gelder Studio organ - May 15/16

(Screenshot by Russell)
Joey DeFrancesco (organ); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Billy Hart (drums); Houston Person(tenor sax)

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home to the Van Gelder Studio. This evening's live stream, or rather a re-stream, the original stream going online across North America late Saturday/early Sunday, featured Joey DeFranceso playing the Van Gelder Hammond B3. 

(Screenshot by Russell)
Down the years the famous vaulted building has hosted many of the biggest names in the business - Miles, Monk, Trane and, of course, the Hammond B3 masters. Larry Young's Tyrone opened the show, the instrumentalists heard to great effect. The one surprise was a malfunctioning PA mic. Studio MD Don Sickler spoke first and the man was all but inaudible. A top line studio, in-house engineers, how did it go so wrong?! However, the music was all important and DeFrancesco positively revelled in playing the B3. To his left, the renowned Peter Bernstein, guitar, to his right, drummer Billy Hart. It doesn't get much better than that! 

The classic Hammond-guitar sound didn't disappoint as DeFrancesco and Bernstein knocked out a succession of blues-drenched numbers...Moanin'One for RudyJ.O.S.. The trio's special guest, Houston Person, blew great laid back, gutsy tenor on Our Miss Brooks, Don Patterson's Aries (Sonny Stitt recorded the number with its composer) and the set closer, Soft Winds
Russell

Set list: TyroneMoanin'Our Miss BrooksAriesOne for RudyRithaJ.O.S.Soft Winds

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