Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Wednesday, June 01, 2022

Moore/Pope/Hunter @ Creative Space, Didsbury May 31

(© Alan Stander)
Michael Moore (clarinet/alto sax); John Pope (bass); Johnny Hunter (drums).

I usually go the Railway (Stockport) on Tuesdays but instead I decided to attend the gig at the Creative Space in Didsbury, Manchester. A session run by Janet Higgins and Phil Portus in the upstairs room of the Slug and Lettuce, 651 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, M20 6QZ.  This was the first concert of a six date UK tour culminating at the Globe. Newcastle on June 5, a venue that will be familiar to BSH readers in the north east. Other dates are the Lescar, Sheffield, June 1; Bonnington Theatre, Nottingham, June 2; Midlands Arts Centre. Birmingham, June 3 and the Wardrobe, Leeds, June 4.


I must admit I didn't know much about Michael Moore who was born in the USA but has long been resident in Amsterdam. He was a key member of the Instant Composers Network  and has played with some important and influential musicians in Europe such as Misha Mengelberg and Hans Bennick.
I hadn't intended to write a review so I didn’t bring a notebook or pen but soon regretted it as this show was one of the best I’ve seen at the Creative Space.  


Moore played the first couple of tunes on clarinet and immediately won me over with his sound, very modern technique and original ideas. He then picked up his alto sax and he once again impressed me and the rest of the audience (there were many local musicians present) with his sound which was full and round. My friend Alan mentioned that he reminded him a lot of Carlos Ward on alto. I was thinking more of Herb Geller with a touch of Lee Konitz.


The majority of the tunes were written by members of the trio with the exception of a very swinging version of Johnny Come Lately which contained a very creative solo from Johnny Hunter, assisted by some  nifty basswork from John Pope. I would recommend anyone in the area of the forthcoming gigs to catch this great trio and no doubt there will be some of the BSH team to maybe review the Globe gig on June 5.


On June 5 I will be back at the Railway for the Mike Hall Quartet - Mike Farmer

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