Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Bryan Pendleton play the music of Rodgers and Hart @ the Railway, Stockport - Sept 30

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Bryan Pendleton (piano); Paul Hartley (guitar); John Sandham (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

The last time Bryan Pendleton headlined at the Railway was on April 26 when he fronted a quintet playing the music of George Shearing. For last night's show Bryan delved into the vast amount of songs composed by the prolific partnership of Rodgers and Hart whose output between 1919-1943 totaled over 500 numbers. They collaborated on 28 Stage musicals, many films featured their songs and it must have been a hard task for Bryan to choose 15 tunes from such a wealth of material.


I must admit I enjoyed this evening's show a lot more than I expected to and I can understand why so many jazz musicians like to feature these tunes. Only a couple of days ago I was watching trumpeter Jeremy Pelt giving his take on I Could Write a Book during a live stream from Smalls in New York. Sonny Rollins has recorded many Rodgers and Hart tunes and they make great vehicles for extended improvisation. I had no idea until tonight that Mountain Greenery was a R & H number, and it reminded me of the first LP I ever bought, a 10” LP by Al Cohn that contained that tune.


One thing I must mention relating to the success of this performance is the solid bass playing by local musician John Sandham. He is one of a bunch of great bass players who you can call on if required and together with Eryl Roberts they got the rhythm spot on.  Announcements were provided by Paul Hartley who also contributed some interesting solos on guitar. Bryan Pendleton did one tune on his own and invited the audience to guess the title and at least three patrons got the right answer including me which was Spring is Here but I was not confident enough to shout it out. 


The turnout for a Tuesday was higher than normal, which was good to see especially as I noticed a few new faces in the room.


The next jazz gig at the Railway is on Sunday Oct. 2 with tenorman Mike Hall. Mike Farmer

 

Falling In Love; My Funny Valentine; Spring is Here; I Could Write a Book; It Never Entered my Mind; Isn’t it Romantic?; Mountain Greenery; You Are Too Beautiful; This Can’t be Love; Have You Met Miss Jones?; Manhattan; With a Song in my Heart; My Romance; You Took Advantage of me.

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