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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Billy Hart Quartet @ Ronnie Scott's - Oct 12

Billy Hart (drums); Mark Turner (tenor sax); Ethan Iverson (piano); Ben Street (double bass)

As travel restrictions eased, veteran drummer Billy Hart flew across the Atlantic with his all-star quartet to fulfill an engagement at Ronnie Scott's. Hart has worked with just about everyone, from Miles Davis to Stan Getz, Marian McPartland to Wes Montgomery and a whole lot more. Here on Frith Street one sensed he had nothing to prove. 

Hart asked Ronnie's patrons if they had heard of him, saying he didn't know anyone in the audience! And with that, Hart's quartet opened with Ethan Iverson's tribute to fellow pianist Hampton Hawes, South Hampton. The composer's multi-layered piece set off in one direction before being swiftly redirected by the band leader's mischievous, propulsive drumming. And this was to be the pattern for a set of some seventy five minutes. If some in the audience didn't know Billy Hart, the man himself knew who he was and is! 

Hart the composer presented Song for Balkis, describing it as a 'tone poem', a reflective, abstract piece afforded great respect by saxophonist Mark Turner pianist Ethan Iverson and bassist Ben Street. Turner himself contributed two, as yet untitled, compositions embracing intense, focused sections and more freely interpreted elements. The Duchess revealed Hart's lyrical side with Iverson and Street developing a glorious, slow tempo, Monk-like swing feel.

The Billy Hart Quartet is a somewhat different beast to some of the drum legend's other projects. The Cookers' appearances at Sage Gateshead presented a full on hard bop programme, here at Ronnie's, Hart had other ideas. All of the material was composed by either Hart, Turner or Iverson,  the quartet perfectly at ease performing one another's charts. 

Octogenarian Billy Hart shows no signs of slowing down. Expect the man to make many return visits to Ronnie Scott's. Russell     

Set list: South Hampton (comp. E. Iverson); Song for Balkis (comp. B. Hart); Untitled (comp. M. Turner); The Duchess (comp. B. Hart); Layla-Joy (comp. B. Hart); Untitled (comp. M. Turner). 

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