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.

Monday, April 11, 2022

Derrick Harris Trio @ the Railway, Stockport - April 10

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Derrick Harris (guitar); Dean Stockdale (keys); Paul Smith (drums).

A session that evoked memories of those days when the Hammond B3 was featured on labels such as Blue Note or Prestige and played by musicians such as Charles Kynard, Shirley Scott, Big John Patton and the great Jimmy Smith. Dean Stockdale produced a sound on his Korg keyboard that reminded me of Melvin Rhyne who played on a Wes Montgomery trio LP that I once owned. 


Derrick mentioned that he was a big fan of Wes Montgomery and it came as no surprise that two of the tunes played this evening were by Wes - Twisted Blues and Fried Pies. Regarding the latter tune, I came across a video yesterday on YouTube of pianist Larry Fuller doing his version of Fried Pies.


I liked the numbers that Derrick selected for tonight's show. We heard tunes by Gillespie, Frank Foster, Hoagy Carmichael, Sam Jones, Tadd Dameron, Horace Silver, and a couple of Derrick’s own compositions: Serious Ways and  Can’t Dance, Won't Dance plus Zig Zag which I believe is also one of Derrick's.


I thought drummer Paul Smith did a great job tonight and his powerful approach suggested to me that he may have had some experience playing in big bands. 


If I had to pick out a highspot during the evening I would choose the opening number Sam Jones' Unit Seven. The rest of the tunes all sounded good but this tune I've particularly liked ever since I first heard it on the Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York LP. It’s quite a tricky tune to play but Derrick’s trio really did a first class rendition. 


If you are into jazz guitar you will find this venue is well known for hosting some great players and the next jazz night at the Railway will be the Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Alex Clarke on Tuesday April 12. Mike Farmer

 

Unit Seven; Serious Ways; One Morning In May; Twisted Blues; Groovin' High; Surrey With the Fringe on Top; Zig Zag; Fried Pies; If I Could See You Now; Shiny Stockings; Can’t Dance, Won’t Dance; Ecorah; Pent-up House.

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