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

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.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Adrian Cox Quintet @ Crazy Coqs, London - Jan. 26

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Denny Ilett (guitar); Joe Webb (piano); Tom Farmer (double bass); Shaney Forbes (drums)

A second night at Piccadilly's Crazy Coqs. The 'house full' signs went up several weeks ago and little wonder given that the evening was to feature showman par excellence, Adrian Cox's Wonderful World of Clarinet concert presentation. Taking to the stage with his A-list band - Messrs Denny Ilett, Joe Webb, Tom Farmer and Shane (Shaney) Forbes - our man was afforded a returning hero's reception. Cox's rapport with his audience is something to behold, it's as if he knows everyone in the room and that's probably not far from the truth! 

St Louis Blues for starters, and what a start! Whipping up the proverbial, the foot-stomping Cox and co. had a go at blowing the roof off. Cue huge applause, Cox the showman didn't let up, tearing into Sweet Georgia Brown. More raucous applause. Joe Webb is a headliner in his own right and here he was playing joyful, Tatum-esque piano. The broad smiles across the stage - from Forbes to the left to Ilett over on the right with bassist Farmer swinging like crazy between them - said it all, they were having fun.

Cox likes to spotlight a favourite clarinetist and this evening Artie Shaw was his man. Take Your Shoes Off, Baby (comp. Gene Austin) with reference to Hot Lips Page's vocal, heard Cox in sublime form. Edmond Hall (Cox's all-time favourite clarinetist) featured, as in his recording with Louis Armstrong, with Cox singing I'm Confessin'. Superb! Tiny Grimes' Tiny's Exercise featured razor-sharp unison lines by Cox and guitarist Denny Ilett, Webb as Tatum and thunderous foot-stompin' clarinet playing from the one-and-only Adrian Cox. It's in the frame as 'Gig of the Year'. Russell  
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