Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18122 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1086 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: FILM: Blue Moon @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Dir. Richard Linklater’s biopic of Lorenz Hart.
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.

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
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: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Monday, August 01, 2022

Derrick Harris Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - July 31

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Derrick Harris (guitar); Andrzej Baranek (keys); Jose Canha (bass); Paul Smith (drums).

This line-up was a a more modern sounding one than the one that last appeared here and upon looking at the list of a dozen tunes played I noticed an absence of any numbers by Wes Montgomery but we did hear some interesting compositions by the likes of John Schofield, Jimmy Heath, Duke Jordan, Luiz Bonfa and Horace Silver plus a bunch of originals by Derrick Harris himself.


There was a bass player on this gig who was new to me and he did a fine job handling some difficult themes. His name is Jose Canha and Derrick mentioned he was from Portugal but on checking on the internet I find he has been living in Leeds and has worked with an impressive list of UK musicians and is also involved in education.


Andrzej Baranek is of course well known to everyone here at the Railway and if you need a hard driving bebopper with a great sound he is the guy to get. He was in fantastic form tonight and his solos were inspiring the rest of the band and getting a great response from the audience.


I’d also like to mention the drumwork of Paul Smith who impressed me with his sound on cymbals and his dexterity on brushes. The volume level of the guitar and the keyboard were a bit higher than I personally prefer but I guess that could be due to the nature of the material played.It all added to the excitement though and I would certainly like to see this version of the Derrick Harris Quartet do a repeat performance
in
 the near future.


The next jazz night at the Railway is on Tuesday Aug 2 with the Steve Oakes Group featuring pianist Richard Weatherall. Mike Farmer

 

Zig Zag; Sunrise; One Morning in May; For Minors Only; Can’t Dance Won’t Dance; I’ll Catch You; Samba de Orpheus Shiny Stockings; White Rabbit; Chant; Ecaroh; Groovelation.

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