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.

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.

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.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Jam Session @ the Black Swan - Sept. 20

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Haaruun Miller (alto/sop sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax); Edgar  Bell (Cornet); Nigel Greenwood (flugel); David Gray (trombone/trumpet/vocals); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Alon Dagon (piano); Kris Finney, Felix Parkin-Christie (drums); Ian Drever, Sheila Herrick (vocals).

The house trio got the show on the road with a bluesy number followed by I Only Have Eyes For You and All the Things You Are both with delightful out of tempo intros by Alan Law.

First of the jammers to take the plunge was Haaruun who did some Bird watching in the form of Ornithology. For Someday my Prince Will Come he went from alto to soprano. Just as the latter tune was approaching the finale up jumped Ed Bell - no shrinking violet he - to cause some confusion. In fact this was an evening where confusion reigned but, that is the charm of a jam - the sound of surprise. Without it, it would be just another gig!

That travelling troubadour from Hoboken via Coxlodge, Ian Drever, found himself grounded before take off on Come Fly With me but found his wings to fly Over the Rainbow and All the Way

Kris Finney took over the kit and that fine young guitarist Jacob Egglestone played Emily. Esther was invited to join the band for Beautiful Love. They  started off without her but she caught up with them and rattled off a fine solo. Leading from the front on Mr PC she sounded good. Haaruun decided he also wanted some of the action leading to more confusion.

In the absence of there being a bevy of bass players in the house Mr PG called a break and glasses were recharged.

Suitably refreshed, phones were belatedly silenced and a switcheroo pulled on stage with Felix now on kit and Alon Dagon on keys. The new arrivals got a good groove going on Cantaloupe Island inspiring Nigel Greenwood to join the party. Last session he played alto sax this time it was flugelhorn - truly a multi-instrumentalist. The downside was he took up a position that completely obscured my view and his opening blast almost perforated my eardrums!

I moved my chair.

This I Dig of You and Samba de Orfeu followed with 'Showtime' adding his trombone to the Black Orpheus tune. David later played trumpet.

Sheila sang Sweet Georgia Brown at which point I left. This was no reflection on Sheila who always chooses good songs but because of a domestic situation I was concerned about at home.

Next jam session is on Oct. 4 - not to be missed. Lance

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