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

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.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Gareth Lockrane Quartet @ the 606 club (live and on-line) - July 10

(Collage by Lance)
Gareth Lockrane (flute/alto flute/bass flute/piccolo); Ross Stanley (piano); Sam Burgess (bass); Shane Forbes (drums).

Brandon Allen was originally booked to appear but had to withdraw to comply with Covid regulations requiring quarantine after travel outside of the UK. Fortunately, getting a dep band isn't as hard as it would normally be. In fact, to get an A-lister like Gareth Lockrane at such short notice would have been asking the impossible.

However, these aren't normal times and this could be a Gareth weekend ...!

As I watched this delightful stream from Lots Rd. I glanced at the pile of CDs hopefully awaiting review and sighed. If any of them are half as good as this session they'll be in with a shout for Record of the Year - wishful thinking.

A cracking set with Lockrane proving that, like so many UK jazzmen (and that includes his three henchmen) they can hold their own worldwide - NYC, LA, anywhere.

Like Someone in Love got the show on the road with Gareth blowing, I think, alto flute. An original that may have been called Shakuhachi Caveman was followed by a South African piece - Township - and a piece dedicated to Joe Zawinul called, I think, Zawinology

There were others that I didn't catch the titles of. One of them had pyramid in the title and was by a New York sax man whose first name was Walt.

This latter number, or maybe it was another one, featured some amazing piccolo playing and, like all the other numbers had Ross Stanley playing out of his skull on piano. I've heard Ross many times on Hammond as well as on a fold it up and put it in the boot of your car keyboard but, this was the first time I can recall hearing him on  an actual grand and he sounded great. Shane Forbes had some amazing solos and Sam Burgess slotted in as befitted his in demand status.

Super session - now it's up to the other Gareth ...
Lance

1 comment :

Russell said...

The 'pyramid' number is likely to be See the Pyramid by Walt Weiskopf.

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