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

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.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

Jammin' @ the Black Swan - March 8

(Pics © Russell)
Stu Collingwood (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather (drums) + Stuart Turner, Ben Davies, Jacob Egglestone, Laurence Harrison (guitar); Abbie Finn, Bailey Rudd, Chris ?, Wilf Pease (drums); Will Reece, Patrick Cromb, Fionnuala Bradbury, Kit Giroux, Conor Polley (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Ruby ? (flute); David Gray (trombone); Murray Wankling (piano); Adam Sams (bass clarinet); Edgar Bell (cornet) - there may have been others ...

They came and went with such rapidity that I soon gave up trying to keep score. Next time I'm going to wear shades, a false beard, drink lager and blend anonymously  into the background so I can just enjoy the  music!

Being International Women's Day it would ill become me not to mention the goils. Esther Coombes blew some nice clarinet and tasty alto on Mr PC (or should that have been re-titled Mr PG?) which was much appreciated by those of us sitting up front. A mic would have helped for those stationed further afield. Fionnuala Bradbury faced similar problems singing Someone to Watch Over me until David Gray came to the rescue and twiddled a few knobs allowing us to appreciate an excellent voice - remember the name.

Ruby played flute. I didn't catch her surname so, given the day of the week, I'll call her Ruby Tuesday. I didn't recognise the tune either but she got a good sound. Abbie Finn needed no introduction - we all know and love her - and she delivered.

It was a night that was awash with drummers, guitarists and singers. Some familiar, some new  to the scene and all, we trust, will be back.

The aforementioned David Gray blew some blistering trombone, guitarist Adam Sams opted, this week, for bass clarinet and Edgar Bell played cornet. There was so much more but space and time precludes further detail.

However, one person deserved of mention who was enjoying the music in a flamboyant fashion turned out to be no less a person than the son of Senegalese icon Youssou N'Dour. The vacationing Chicago resident showed his enthusiasm in no uncertain manner!

Next jam is on March 22. Lance

No comments :

Blog Archive