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.

Monday, May 17, 2021

Rossano Sportiello: Live from the flat - May 16

(Screenshot by Russell)
Rossano Sportiello (piano); Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet); Evan Sherman (drums)

Three NYC A-listers, pianist Rossano Sportiello, trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso and drummer Evan Sherman, live from Sportiello's flat in Greenwich Village. The focus of their attention, three musicians who, at one time or another, worked together on many a jazz stage, namely Ralph Sutton, Ruby Braff and Gus Johnson.

Sportiello cuts a genial figure, a smile never far from his face. His guests, Kellso and the young, in-demand Sherman, appear to be easy going types themselves. Sportiello's piano elegance has been noted on previous live streams, Kellso similarly elegant on trumpet, Sherman's economy of style the order of the day. A set list of standards, Sportiello would play a couple of solo pieces, including Jimmy Van Heusen's Deep in a Dream, Kellso would switch from regulation plunger mute to a recently acquired 'Kellso Pixie' mute and back again, our trumpeter taking the opportunity to plug his new endorsement deal with Huber Music! 

From When You're Smiling to I Would Do Most Anything for You (heard earlier in the day on Adrian Cox's Sunday Service) to an upbeat finale with I've Found a New Baby, the Greenwich Village trio entertained an online audience that, way back when, would have been entertained by today's subjects - Messrs Sutton, Braff and Johnson - in a NYC jazz club. Those were the days!  
Russell


Set list: When You're SmilingOld Fashioned Love; ?; Ja-DaI Would Do Most Anything for YouDeep in a DreamClimb Every MountainI've Found a New Baby

1 comment :

Patti said...

Rossano is such a classy pianist - beautifully flowing and sensitive touch, with a great rolling left hand too! I remember him at one of our Whitley Bay International Jazz Festivals in the early 2000's, appearing with the Milano Jazz Gang - he's come a long way since then!

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