Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: 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 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Monday, November 29, 2021

Carole Williams & Helen Pillinger Quintet @ the Railway, Stockport - Nov. 28)

Carole Williams (trombone/keys); Helen Pillinger (tenor sax); Paul Hartley (guitar); Peter Hartley (bass guitar); Eryl Roberts (drums)

The thing I liked most about this gig was that although I have seen this unit before at the Railway and other local venues, they always play interesting tunes some of which I am not familiar with. One example of this is a number called Three Views of a Secret written by the late great bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius. Another was Oz penned by steel pan drummer Andy Narell.  We also heard two Mingus compositions, a Gigi Gryce original,  one by Wes Montgomery, a Carole Williams tune, a Jobin bossa and more making a grand total of fourteen tunes played during the 9:00pm-11:00pm time slot. This could be a record for numbers played at the Railway.


Few gigs these days seem to go by without the inclusion of Body and Soul and this was no exception, On this occasion it being a feature for Helen Pillinger's tenor sax ably assisted by Paul Hartley's trio. The Johnny Green standard must be one of the most played numbers in the jazz repertoire and my favourite version apart from the early Hawkins one, is Jimmy Heath's rendition on his album Portrait of Heath where he plays tenor and soprano sax.


One number which gave the band a different sound was that classic Eddie Harris hit that he recorded with Les McCann, Cold Duck Time and this saw Carole getting a very convincing Hammond B3 organ sound on her keyboard.  The night certainly had some surprises in the choice of tunes and I look forward to seeing them on their next visit to the Railway.


The next jazz at the Railway is tomorrow night (Nov. 30) with the West Coast Octet.

 

Lookin' up; Full House; Jelly Roll; Minority; Body and Soul; Oz; Sometime; Cold Duck Time; Favela; Slow Hot Wind; Three Views of a Secret; Pussy Cat Dues; Orange Shadows; A
Night in Tunisia.

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