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.

Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

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.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Black Swan Jam - Dec. 21

Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Sid White (drums)

The house trio kicked things off on what was expected to be a relatively quiet night with I Will Wait For You and How About You? We didn't have to wait too long before Mr Bassman Grainger was saying to an ever-increasing influx of instrument cases "How about you?"

The line was forming on the right.

First up was bass guitarist Richie Richardson who spelled Paul for some Jaco with Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and The Chicken.

King David Ike-Elechi replaced Southpaw Syd on drums which gave King's sidekick in Knats, trumpet player Ferg Kilsby, and bassist Oscar Ho time to decide to play All the Things You Are after the kit was mirror-imaged.

Edgar Ho joined bruv Oscar on keys, Sam Toulson arrived on alto (and I mean arrived!) to pair up with Ferg for Bye Bye Blackbird - things were hotting up.

The temperature continued to rise when Harry Toulson added more alto to the mix and Laurence Harrison kicked in on guitar. I didn't do the maths but, by this time the average age of the band must have been about 18! There Will Never be Another You really nailed it! (The Sam Toulson Quartet are at The Globe in January - not to be missed unless ...). 

Perennial favourite Nick Gould drove down from Edinburgh. After hearing the young trumpet player and the  two alto saxes the tenor player must have felt like Coleman Hawkins did when he ran into those Kansas City cats way back in the 1930s!

However, Nick knows his way around a Mark VI and, with Murray Wankler on piano, after a spirited Tangerine, he wiped everybody out with Angel Eyes taken as a fast Samba. He was playing for keeps!

Ray Johnson chose flugelhorn for My One and Only Love. Nick joined in before they had a blast on My Little Suede Shoes. 

So far, no vocals - that was about to change!

Sid White took to the mic for Pennies From Heaven and it didn't hurt at all - more please. Ferg Kilsby also blew a nice chorus.

Killer Joe saw another bass guitarist on the stand - Steve Picking. The clock was ticking and they entered the home straight with Scrapple From the Apple. A request for The Christmas Song was despatched before the penultimate Take the A Train. Trumpet, flugel, tenor, piano, guitar, bass and drums (the Hos and the Toulsons had caught an earlier train) which arrived ahead of time so Paul decreed that they had six minutes to see off Straight no Chaser which they duly did as I left to catch the 27 Crusader. A great jam plus mince pies and Xmas crackers - Lance

(Top photo by Russell, the rest by Lance who apologises for the quality.)

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