Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: 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 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Newcastle Jazz Festival (day three) - August 20

(© Pam)
Jo Harrop (vocal); Jamie McCredie (guitar) + Graham Hardy (trumpet).

A third gig in two days for this most delightful of duos with packed houses at all three. After the glowing reviews by Sylvia and Jerry of their previous two performances they have left me with nothing to say other than to concur and say absolutely! The applause after and during each number was positively thunderous - or it may have been the rain stotting down on the roof - probably both!

Oh and, as a bonus, Graham Hardy guested on a couple of numbers - this was Christmas come early! I Fall in Love Too Easily and Fine and Mellow were the pieces enhanced by his presence.

We also heard: Easy to Love; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; Fine and Dandy; I Think You'd Better go; What the Heart Wants; Lover; Take it With me; I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl; What a Little Moonlight Can do; Guilty.

As a footnote, Jo looked stunning and Jamie ultra-cool.

(© Pam)
Graham Hardy Quartet: Graham Hardy (trumpet); Ben Lawrence (piano); John Pope (bass); Rob Walker (drums).

Hardy had appeared earlier leading a top notch quartet in a tribute to Miles Davis' 1960s' recordings such as Seven Steps to Heaven, Someday my Prince Will Come and In a Silent Way. All four were at the top of their game with Ben Lawrence, taking those hearing him for the first time by surprise. He's on an ever upward curve.

(© Pam)
Alter Ego: Dave Hignett (trumpet); Keith Robinson (alto sax); Niall Armstrong (tenor sax/flute); Joe Steels (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); David Johnson (drums).

Hard bop, tightly arranged with cutting edge solos. Unlike so many bands of this nature every one didn't solo on every number and the dreaded fours were placed rightly and properly at the end of the  final number. Hignett hit the high notes, Armstrong shone on both flute and tenor, Robinson led from the front with Joe Steels a welcome addition to the band. Whent depped on bass with the whole shebang driven along by young Johnson.

Jamie Toms (tenor sax) & Dean Stockdale (piano) stepped in to fill an unexpected gap in the proceedings to deliver a duo set that was well-received and sounded as if they'd been playing together since childhood - nice one.

Riviera Experience:
(© Pam)
Pete Tanton (trumpet/flugel/vocal); Lloyd Wright (guitar); John Bradford (drums/congas).

The affable Alabama ex-pat Tanton opened up day three of the festival with a smooth Latinesque set featuring his exquisite horn playing and cool vocals. A rare appearance by Lloyd Wright added to the ambience whilst drummer Bradford elected to play congas making for a truly exotic mix. A grand start to what turned out be an exhausting, but pleasurable shift - Lance

PS: See previous post for review of Ivo Neame Quartet.

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