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.

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.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Monday, September 19, 2022

Suzanne Fonseca Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Sept. 18

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Suzanne Fonseca (trombone); Robin Dewhurst (piano);  Gavin Barras (bass); Danny Ward (drums).

This was an evening of great tunes, mainly standards and who better to interpret them than top trombonist Suzanne Fonseca and her team of outstanding musicians. Some of the numbers were done in bossa nova style but all maintained my interest and were well received by an audience of all age groups.


The opening number, Ellington’s  In A Mellotone was played at the maestro's original medium tempo and, straight away, I was impressed by the great sound Robin Dewhurst was producing on the house upright piano.


Robin also played some inventive solos throughout the evening and as well as knowing what notes to play he also knows what notes to leave out when in accompanying mode.  


Gavin Barras was doing great things on bass and Danny Ward helped to keep everything on course with some excellent drumwork.


We heard some nice ballads tonight and I thought Suzanne’s version of Easy Living and Darn That Dream were particularly noteworthy. I also liked her up tempo work on Harold Arlen’s As Long As I Live and her bossa nova treatment of Cole Porter’s  Easy to Love. 


If you have not seen Suzanne Fonseca before, it is well worth seeking her out as she is one of the best exponents of trombone jazz that you are likely to hear anywhere.


Next Jazz night at the Railway is on Tuesday Sept 20 with the Freddie Garner Quartet - Mike Farmer

 

In a Mellotone; Easy to Love; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Triste; Easy Living; Basin Street Blues; Caravan; As Long as I Live; Poor Butterfly; Darn That Dream; S’Wonderful; We’ll be Together Again; This Can’t be Love; Bésame Mucho.

No comments :

Blog Archive