Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

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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