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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Saturday, May 08, 2021

KSTV: The Meters - May 8

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Artie Zaitz (guitar); Peter Daley (organ); Flo Moore (bass); Femi Koleoso (drums) + Giacomo Smith (alto sax)

The Meters defined the groove. From the mid-sixties through the seventies and beyond, the New Orleans' rhythm machine set the standard. This evening's session at Kansas Smitty's sought to bring something of that groove to the party. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Guitarist Artie Zaitz, in the region a couple of years ago with Moses Boyd at DJazz, welcomed online viewers from 'Streamsville'. A good line, we've been living in Streamsville for a year and more! The quartet, later to be augmented by Giacomo Smith blowing alto sax, locked, limpet-like, on to a groove, and for the next hour simply wouldn't let go. Bass and drums couldn't have been better - Flo Moore, heard at Sage Gateshead a while ago, laid down killer lines matched only by the brilliant groove merchant Femi Koleoso. Completing the line-up, recent Kansas Smitty's recruit, organist Peter Daley, setting the place alight with some smokin' lines of his own. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

From the Meters' classic Cissy Strut, with Kansas Smitty's ace band referencing Miles' Jean Pierre, to Cardova to Look-Ka Py Py, to the one cover of the set, Sly and the Family Stone's Simple Song, this Saturday evening session proved to be as good as anything KSTV has presented, and that's saying something! If WT of Hoochie Coochie fame was watching, could it be he'll book these guys to play on Pilgrim St, Newcastle? If he does, it'll be a sellout!  Russell         
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1 comment :

NeilC said...

I saw Kansas Smitty's at the Sage a couple of years back in the smaller Hall 2 they were just superb but I was so disappointed by the numbers who attended I could see empty seats and not sure level 3 was even open I just don't understand it , the tickets were inexpensive , the musicianship was second to none yet people seemingly voted with their feet and decided not to attend , quite why it wasn't a sell out beggars belief.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:28:00 am

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