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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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.

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: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
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 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Monday, September 05, 2022

Al Wood Quintet @ the Railway, Stockport - Sept. 4

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Al Wood (alto sax); Richard Isles (flugel); Martin Longhawn (keys); Dave Lynane (bass); Dave Hassell (drums). 

This was the sort of line-up that I like to hear at the Railway as most of the gigs that happen here tend to be one horn plus rhythm but adding a brass player certainly widens the choice of tunes to be played. We heard a great selection of numbers by the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Hank Mobley, Benny Carter, Bobby Timmons, Cannonball Adderley and Clifford Brown.  There was a lot of chart reading on the bandstand and this presented a problem in that it was difficult to get a good photo of all the musicians but the music is what mattered and it was well received by the audience.


A newcomer to this venue was Martin Longhawn who, on Korg keyboard, impressed everyone with his solo work and also his comping which was ideal for this group reminding me of Wynton Kelly and Bobby Timmons. 


A further highlight for me was the group’s version of the blues  Sack of Woe which was featured on that fantastic Cannonball Adderley album Live at the Lighthouse, and Martin got things spot on when he played the intro originally done by Victor Feldman. The two Daves sounded in fine form and their playing on this tune and others showed that their vast experience counts a lot in jazz.


Other tunes that I enjoyed were the Phil Woods' composition My Man Benny which was a dedication to the late Benny Carter and featured fine solo work from Richard Isles who, according to Al Wood, was using a horn that once belonged to Kenny Wheeler. The Hank Mobley tune Funk in a Deep Freeze is one I like to hear and the Jobim tune One Note Samba worked well as a closing number. Al Wood is a top class saxman and I went home very pleased with what I'd heard.   


The next jazz night at the Railway is Tuesday Sept. 6 with Steve Oakes Band featuring Freddie Garner. Mike Farmer

 

Jeru; Funk in a Deep Freeze; Tiphouse; Sack of Woe; My Man Benny; Who's Got Rhythm?; Dat Dere; Friends Again; Sometime Ago; Joy Spring; One Note Samba.

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