Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

September.

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

B Sharps Quartet Plus One @ the Railway, Stockport - August 30.

(© Jim Pritchard)
Jim Collins (baritone sax); Lana, Leo (alto sax); Robert (soprano sax); Pip (tenor sax).

This group was announced by Jim Collins as the B Sharps Sax Quartet Plus One. The other members were, I believe, all ex students of Stockport's music schools. 


Jim frequently plays at the Railway with the Freddy Garner Quartet and  occasionally guests in guitarist Steve Oakes’  unit. He can also be seen in the sax section of the many big bands that work throughout the north west.

I had never previously heard him play baritone sax but I was impressed with the really big sound he got out of the Yamaha horn.


This gig was a bit of a departure from the modern jazz policy that prevails at this venue and it may be said that all the music we heard may not have had a lot of jazz content but, the enthusiastic approach of the younger participants did go down well with the larger than usual Tuesday night audience. 


The number of tunes played came to an incredible 21 and they were, as you will see, a diverse selection comprising tunes composed by or made popular by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Benny Golson, George Michael, George Gershwin and many more including two by Hoagy Carmichael. 


The opening number, Sir Duke, set the standard for what followed and although there was little improvisation involved I was impressed by the overall sound and the spot on tuning that this group paid close attention to.  If I remember rightly, I think Sonny Rollins featured Sir Duke during a great gig I went to at Wembley Conference Centre.   


To sum up, well done everyone on a very entertaining evening. 


Next jazz night at the Railway is Sunday Sept 4 with the Al Wood Quintet. Mike Farmer.

 

Sir Duke; Funk Dunk; Stardust; Whisper Not; Summertime; Bohemian Rhapsody; Take the A Train; Brazil; Careless Whisper ;Thriller; Chattanooga Choo Choo; Looney Tunes; In the Mood; Up a Lazy River; Slightly Arabic; You’ve Got a Friend; When Sunny Gets Blue; Hot Toddy; Pink Panther; Tico Tico; Isle Of Capri.

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