Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Charlie Parker was my introduction to the religion of music. And so he's always with me .'' - Downbeat November 2025.

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

17950 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 914 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Nov. 7).

From This Moment On ...

November

Sun 09: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED TO NOV. 16 OWING TO ILLNESS
Sun 09: Salty Dog @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:30pm (doors). Jazz, blues, Americana.
Sun 09: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Sun 09: David Gray’s Flextet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 11: Laura Jurd @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Thu 04: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Seasonal/Festive Music & Songs - autumn into winter.
Thu 13: Awen Ensemble @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Jazz-folk.
Thu 13: SwanNek + Ellen Beth Adbi + Phantom Bagman @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. A BBC Introducing event.

Fri 14: Dan Johnson Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Giles Strong Quartet @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £32.00.
Fri 14: Guisborough Big Band @ Saltburn Golf Club. 7:30pm. £12.00 (inc. pie & peas). SOLD OUT!

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00-9:30pm.
Sat 15: Les Frères Frangipane @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors 7:30pm). £10.00. ‘Chanson Française’. Fundraiser for Jesmond Community Orchard & Jesmond Library.

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

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Central Bar Quintet plays Miles Davis' Workin' @ Central Bar, Gateshead - May 9

Pete Tanton (trumpet, vocals); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums) + Abbie Finn (drums); Tom Parry-Jones (drums)

A select crowd assembled on Half Moon Lane to listen to the Central Bar Quintet play the music of Miles Davis' mid-fifties quintet, often described as Davis' first great quintet. The 1956 Prestige album Workin' took centre stage, Pete Tanton charged with the responsibility of 'playing Miles'. Aiding and abetting the genial Tanton were Harry 'John Coltrane' Keeble on tenor sax, and the established house trio of Alan Law, piano, Mick Shoulder, bass, and drummer John Bradford.

The Theme opened the evening's concert set. The quintet finely balanced, Tanton tightly muted. It Never Entered My Mind (Keeble out), a knockout solo from pianist Law on Four, drummer, and MC, John Bradford soloing on Dave Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way, this was great stuff. Time to go to the bar then flip the vinyl for side two (the second set).      

Side two: the horns - Tanton and Keeble - blew as if Miles and Trane on Trane's Blues, the Central Bar Quintet well and truly into it. Keeble stepped aside for Alan Law's feature on Ahmad's Blues (Ahmad Jamal), bassist Mick Shoulder soloing as if Paul Chambers! To close, Miles' (Eddie Vinson's) Half Nelson. It had been an excellent recital/recreation/exploration of Workin', one of the Central Bar's best sessions yet. 

The recent run - and oddity - of horn-less jam sessions continued here in Gateshead with just two sitters-in, drummers both. First up, Abbie Finn. Any gig, any jam session, whatever the context, Finn is your woman. And the other drummer in the house, Tom Parry-Jones, impressed, fitting in nicely. Our medical student (what is it about medics and music?) is going to be an asset to the Tyneside jazz scene for the next few years. Check him out. From Miles to Pete Tanton, trumpeter and vocalist, we heard verse and chorus on But Not for Me and Just Friends. It had been an enjoyable concert performance and jam session. June's Central Bar session promises to be a good one, the principals (alto sax and guitar) to be confirmed (Monday 13 June). Russell       
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