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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: 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 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Paul Hartley Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 29

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Paul Hartley  (guitar); Phil Nicholas (trumpet); Ben Wiltshire (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

 Recently we have heard at the Railway quite a few saxophonists as featured guests but tonight Paul was joined by young trumpeter Phil Nicholas who some readers may have seen playing in the UK tribute band Nearly Dan. He has a big brassy sound and right away got things going in a Latin jazz mode with that classic Mongo Santamaria composition Afro-Blue. The second number was Stella By Starlight , a tune I’m not too keen on as it does get played too often in my opinion. However Nicholas did a great job and he continued to impress me throughout the night. 

It was good to see Eryl Roberts back after recovering from Covid and he played some great solos. Paul Hartley likes to introduce the tunes and before the band played the tune Dig he invited the audience to guess what tune this was based on. I was correct on my second guess which was Sweet Georgia Brown . The Horace Silver composition Quicksilver was also based on the same tune I believe.


There was one number that the band played in the second set that I had not heard before and that was Midnight Mood from the pen of Joe Zawinul. The show finished with the Sonny Rollins blues Sonnymoon for Two; and everyone agreed it was another great night of modern jazz at the Railway. The next jazz night here is Sunday April 3 with saxman Mike Hall. Mike Farmer

 

Afro-Blue; Stella By Starlight; My Little Suede Shoes; Dig Sandu; Softly as in a Moning Sunrise; Up Jumped Spring; You’re My Everything; Midnight Mood;  Sonnymoon For Two;

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