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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

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.

No comments :

Blog Archive