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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Album review: Chet Baker and Wolfgang Lackerschmid - Welcome Back

Chet Baker (trumpet); Wolfgang Lackerschmid (vibes); Nicola Stylo (flute, guitar tk. 8); Gunter Lenz (bass) + Rocky Knauer (bass); Peri Dos Santos (guitar); Edir Dos Santos (drums).

The third documentation of the collaboration between Baker and Lackerschmid is as delightful as the previous two releases

None of the three albums are groundbreaking affairs and this one, recorded less than a year before Baker's tragic death, could easily be filed away as Easy Listening.  So what's wrong with that? There are times when one just needs to relax and hear some beautifully played jazz that won't have the neighbours knocking on the wall and taking out court orders to have you evicted or certified as insane.

Baker's sound is so mellow - one of the few trumpet players who didn't need a flugelhorn to convey such lyricism. The notes are sparse, the virtuoso flights of fantasy non-existent and yet he says more in one phrase than most of the stratospheric speed merchants ever did in a dozen choruses. 

In Lackerschmid he has a like-minded co-pilot. The German vibes player, along with Baker have their names on the score sheet as composers although a lot of them do sound rather familiar - contrafacts? 

Some impressive flute solos from Stylo add to the overall mood.

If I describe it as nocturnal that is not intended to be in any way disrespectful. Quite the contrary, after a hard day at the office it's music to unwind to, to relax with a beer or a coffee and enjoy the pure sound from possibly one of the most lyrical trumpet players ever. Lance.

Available from Dot Time Records now on CD/Digital or on Vinyl next year  (Feb. 24).

Welcome Back; Christmas Waltz; Gloria's Answer; Pitztal Daybreak; Volta Trais; Try it Dry; Why Shouldn't You Cry?; Waltz For Berlin; Welcome Back.

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