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.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Paul Hartley Quartet w. Gair Carson @ the Railway, Stockport - Aug. 9

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Paul Hartley (guitar); Gair Carson  (alto/tenor sax/flutes); Pete Hartley (bass guitar); Eryl Roberts (drums).

Gair Carson brought with him two saxophones and two flutes so I guess I would be correct in describing him as a multi-instrumentalist. I have seen him many times sitting in the sax section of various local big bands and I remember seeing him playing in one of the three west coast octet groups that operate in the north west area. I believe he took part recently in a band that was a tribute to the late Dave Pell here at the Railway but I missed this due to a conflict of engagements.

Judging by his selection of tunes he seems to have a pretty wide taste in music and during this gig we heard numbers by Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Sergio Mendes, Benny Golson, Sam Jones, Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington as well as a few standards. One tune that I thought worked well was Red Top which I think was a big hit for Lionel Hampton during the big band era. Another one I enjoyed was a tune that was new to me, I Can’t Last a Day Without You, on which Gair elected to play alto flute. I think the last time I heard this instrument live may well have been when I saw Jimmy Giuffre  at the Band On The Wall way back when the Manchester jazz scene was really buzzing. 

                   

Peter Hartley, who is the son of guitarist Paul Hartley, did a great job tonight and, together with drummer Eryl Roberts, coped with some unfamiliar and challenging material. 


Once again it was another successful evening of modern jazz at the Railway. The next jazz night is on Sunday August 14 with Munch Manship. Mike Farmer.

 

It’s You or no One; Up Jumped Spring; Groovy Samba; Warm Valley; You Stepped Out of a Dream; Red Top; I Can’t Last a Day Without You; All by Myself; Del Sasser; Far Wes; Só Danço Samba; 'Round Midnight; Jingles.

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