Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Trefor Owen Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Dec. 19

Trefor Owen, Andy Hulme (guitars); Liam Byrne (tenor, sop sax); Ed Harrison (bass).

The journey from my home to the Railway is pretty straight forward and usually takes about fifteen minutes but due to very foggy conditions I got lost a couple of times and missed a turning but eventually got there.


This no doubt deterred some of the regulars from attending as the turnout was well down on what it usually is on a Sunday night. However, the band had arrived early and the gig started on time at 9pm.


The two guitar team of Trefor Owen and Andy Hulme have been working together for many years both in the UK and abroad and have developed a rare rapport with each other. As they do not use a drummer a lot depends on having an emphatic bass player and who better than the great Ed Harrison. He never puts a foot wrong.


Also on board was another musician who is perfect for this type of unit, Liam Byrne who on this occasion played mainly tenor sax although he did get a great sound out of a curly soprano on one number.


A dozen tunes were played, mostly standards plus the occasional bossa and a Wes Montgomery original. If I was asked what tune I liked best I would pick out the Wes Montgomery tune Road Song as the quartet seemed to give this a very spirited reading. Also it’s a very catchy theme. Another one was How About You? which had a rather intricate arrangement, perhaps by George Shearing.


The next gig at The Railway is on Tuesday Dec. 21 with the Derrick Harris Trio - Mike Farmer.

 

Black Orpheus; I Thought About You. Dreamsville; How About You?; Once I Loved; Alone Together; Road Song; East Of The Sun; On A Clear Day; But Beautiful; Witchcraft; How Insensitive.

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