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.

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.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, July 04, 2022

Ruth Lambert & Martin Craggs @ The Blues, Jazz & Swing Festival. The Exchange, North Shields - July 3

(© The Exchange)
Ruth Lambert (vocals); Martin Craggs (guitar)

The opening set of the third and final day of the inaugural Blues, Jazz and Swing Festival in North Shields. The Exchange on Howard Street was covered in scaffolding, making one wonder: Is the place open? It was and it is. On entering the enclosed courtyard a gentle hubbub could be heard emanating from the bar. Festival-goers were gathering for the first of the day's concerts. Ruth Lambert was about to give a GASbook singer's masterclass.

There Will Never be Another You sang Lambert, accompanied by guitarist Martin Craggs. The Exchange's cafe/bar took on an a relaxed air, a day for reading the papers with people arriving and departing at intervals, others there for the long haul. The cafe's espresso machine displayed admirable timing, perking up just as Lambert began to sing Black Coffee. Irritated or not, Lambert, ever the professional, laughed it off.

If not the debut duo public performance of Lambert and Craggs, it was near enough, damn it. And what a fine job they made of it - Craggs reading the dots, finding his way around the fretboard with ease, Lambert being Lambert, swinging the proverbial 'phone book. A few Latin numbers spiced up the set - How Insensitive, One Note Samba and Desafinado - and to close, The Lady is Tramp. The 'lady', Ms Lambert, is a star. Russell
                   
Set list: There Will Never be Another You; Black Coffee; I've Got the World on a String; How Insensitive; Like Someone in Love; Here's That Rainy Day; Beautiful Love; One Note Samba; You Played on My Piano; All the Things You Are; Desafinado; Cry Me a River; The Lady is a Tramp. 
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1 comment :

Lance said...

It was the start of a great day that was the cumulation of a great weekend. Ruth just gets better and better - if that is possible - but, to me, Martin Craggs' guitar playing was a revelation. Some of the most tasteful playing I've heard in many a long session. I loved the way he managed to play chords and bass lines during his solos.
I'd have liked to have seen a few more of the jazz coast fraternity giving their support but that is something to work on...

Monday, July 04, 2022 7:50:00 pm

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