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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Friday, October 21, 2022

Mondo Trumpet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle - Oct. 20

(© Mike Tilley)
Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass, bass guitar); John Bradford (drums)

At the Black Swan this evening trumpeters Graham Hardy and Pete Tanton took the audience on a world tour, transporting us to far flung places, from Portugal to New Orleans by way of Norway, Golders Green (?!?!) and Japan. Supporting our duo on their jaunt, three A-listers - all the way from exotic Cumbria, pianist Ben Lawrence, bassist extraordinaire Andy Champion and the ubiquitous John Bradford, drums. Hardy and Tanton weren't trying to knock spots of one another, that's not their style, this evening's concert was more mutual appreciation society than slugfest. 

(© Mike Tilley)
Edvard Grieg's Solveig's Song, Dizzy Gillespie's Lorraine, contrasting compositions, both despatched with aplomb. Throughout the evening Ben Lawrence, the youngest member of the quintet, played piano as if gigging five nights a week. Chatting to Ben during the interval he said he's doing little or no playing west of the Pennines. It is, therefore, all the more remarkable that he handled the material with such apparent ease.

The bossa nova sound punctuated the set list, Dizzy's Lorraine laid claim to more familiar jazz territory, Graham Hardy's Seven Bridges (the composition's musical form consisting of seven notes, each one pitched at the height of one of the Tyne's seven bridges) sounded good, Pete Tanton's Moral Compass, first heard pre-pandemic in Durham (probably at Empty Shop) was given another outing and it was good to hear the melody and lyrics once more. 

The Mondo Trumpet world tour wound up in N'Awlins, John Bradford setting up the Crescent City rhythm. An encore was called for and off we went to, of all places, Japan. It had been a most enjoyable evening. Next month's Black Swan promotion (Thursday 10 November) presents the Ruth Lambert Quartet. Recommended. Russell    

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