Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Monday, August 16, 2021

Suzanne Fonseca Quartet @ The Railway, Stockport - August 15

Suzanne w. Wally Davis in 2016
Suzanne Fonseca (trombone); Jim Faulkner (guitar); Ed Harrison (bass); Danny Ward (drums) + Adrian Wilkinson (clarinet).

One of the most popular jazz musicians to be seen and heard at the Railway is trombone maestro Suzanne Fonseca and if you want to get a good seat, get there early because the room is usually almost full before she plays a note! She is somewhat of a legend in the North West and rightly so - she really is an awesome player with a great sound and making it all look so easy, but I daresay it is anything but.

About two years ago Suzanne usually fronted a quintet which featured Wally Davis, an old friend of mine, on tenor, alto and soprano sax who, like me, was a big fan of the great Sonny Stitt.

Wally, I believe, is now living in Glasgow and I hope he hasn’t stopped playing, he really had a handle on the bebop style.  Since Wally moved north Suzanne has been using a quartet formula with the acoustic house piano being utilised so using guitar tonight surprised me but it worked a treat.

Some random thoughts re the gig. Adrian Wilkinson played on Blue Bossa,  Perdido, and Caravan  and stayed on for the rest of the tunes. He is a neighbour of Suzanne's and plays in the sax section of the well-known Syd Lawrence Big Band. Danny Ward another Manchester drummer did great stick and brushwork and Ed Harrison played some tasty solos as he always does.  Jim Faulkner is one great guitarist and I have used him myself on many occasions. You may know him from his work with Gavin Barras’s Family Tree Group. 

Fifteen tunes were played which is over average and not one blues!  Mike Farmer

All the Things You Are; You Stepped Out of a Dream; Stella by Starlight; Have You Met Miss Jones; London by Night; Pennies from Heaven; Blue Bossa; Perdido; Caravan/Take the A Train; Out of Nowhere; September in the Rain. There Will Never be Another You; Honeysuckle Rose; Bésame Mucho.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Great gig! Really enjoyed it.Superb atmosphere

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