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 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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