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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Trefor Owen Trio @ the Railway, Stockport - July 19

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Trefor Owen, Billy Buckley (guitars); Dave Luckhurst (bass).

Trefor and I were chatting before the gig and I asked him who were his favourite guitarists. He mentioned Pat Martino, George Benson and Wes Montgomery which I thought was a pretty good choice. He actually  included in his set list tonight a couple of Montgomery’s compositions - Four on Six and Road Song. As with most of Trefor's gigs he did not need the services of a drummer to keep things in tempo. 

Dave Luckhurst, who I last saw at the Railway playing vibes, had his triangular bass in play and he gave great support to the two guitarists. Trefor has done many gigs at the Railway but I can’t recall the last time Billy Buckley played here and, at the end of the final number Blues in the Closet,  Trefor told the audience that although he knew about Billy Buckley by reputation this was the first time they had played together. Trefor also mentioned at the start of tonight's show that he had a hard job getting a band together as many of the usual people he liked to work with were away on holiday or were otherwise engaged.


It didn't matter, I thought the two guitarists worked well together and I’m sure they enjoyed the gig as much as I did. The sound that Buckley produced reminded me of another great guitarist Barney Kessel who not many people seem to talk about these days.  Trefor’s mellow sound blended well with Billy’s more assertive approach and it would be good to see this line-up repeated again.


All being well, the next jazz night at the Railway is Sunday July 24 with a special appearance by the wonderful Greg Abate with the Paul Hartley Group. 9pm-11pm. Mike Farmer

 

I Thought About You; Black Orpheus; You Don’t Know What Love Is; Yesterdays; Once I Loved; Four on Six; Beautiful Love; How Insensitive; Road Song;But Beautiful; Quiet Nights; Blues in the Closet.

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