Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
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: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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.

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

Monday, February 13, 2023

Derrick Harris Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Feb. 12

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Derrick Harris (guitar); Andrzej Baranek (keys); Jose Hanha (bass); Paul Smith (drums).

The flyer for February advertised this gig as a trio but I counted four musicians  assembled on stage! Still, I had no complaints as four is usually better than three especially when the ringer is  Andrzej Baranek of whom it's always a pleasure to hear as he never fails to get a fantastic sound from his keyboard. 

However, he did have his work cut out tonight  as Derrick had brought along a bunch of charts for the band to sight read and interpret.  Most of them were Derrick originals  with the exception of his tribute to the late composer Burt Bacharach - This Guy’s In Love With You, a number that pianist Cedar Walton used to feature. Check out the album Live at Boomers, possibly one of the best versions of this tune.


I liked Derrick's take on Jerome Kern's  Yesterdays which he called Days Gone By and I also liked what he did with Sunrise based on that much played standard at jam sessions, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise.  


It was difficult to select any high spots as all these musicians operate at a top level standard and I’m sure they enjoyed the applause they received from a very appreciative audience. I noticed however, that there were no ballads featured tonight but that is just an observation  


The next jazz night at the Railway is Feb. 14 with Paul Hartley's Band featuring Julian Gregory and Mathew Compton. Mike Farmer

 

Pep Talk; Days Gone By; I Can’t Imagine; This Guy's In Love With You; Can’t Dance, Won’t Dance; Don’t Mind If I Do; Zigzag; White Rabbit; Sunrise; Second Exit; Skedaddle; Latin Quartet (Quarter?)

No comments :

Blog Archive