Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Harry Keeble & Friends @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington - Dec 14

Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The Forum's monthly jazz night invariably features Acoustic Infusion with one or two guests. This evening the stage was given over to tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble. Joining the Leeds College of Music graduate were 'friends' Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger and John Bradford. They've worked together in various combinations, including jam sessions, but this Borough Road concert brought them together for the first time as a working unit. Keeble cites Michael Brecker and Wayne Shorter as influential figures and the lure of Coltrane is evident.


Wayne Shorter's Mahjong opened the set in front of what is known as a 'select audience'. Keeble's post-bop tenor playing ratcheted up the intensity bit by bit, tension and release meticulously crafted. Anthropology presented the ad hoc quartet with an opportunity to stretch out. Keeble's upper register breath control impressed on Miyako and all four impressed on a most welcome swift take on Stella by Starlight. Keeble indicated Body and Soul would be somewhat different to the conventional reading of Johnny Green's classic composition. And it was, pacier with a nod to Coltrane. 

Keeble's arrangement of Silent Night came as a surprise opening to the second set, 'Round Midnight was the Ravi Coltrane take on Monk's timeless number featuring John Bradford handling the hip-hop-plus drum patterns with consummate ease. Naima was full on Trane, and the inclusion of Pat Metheny's Bright Size Life as the set closer seemed to tickle Keeble, this being a guitar-less quartet! An encore won, we went on our way with Mingus' Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.  Russell                 

Set list: Mahjong; Anthropology; Miyako; Stella by Starlight; Body and Soul; Silent Night; 'Round Midnight; Naima; Bright Size Life; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 
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