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

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.

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Rossano Sportiello: # 90 Live at the Flat in Greenwich Village - Feb. 14

Rossano Sportiello (piano); Emmet Cohen (piano); Johnny O'Neal (piano, vocals) + Giuseppe Cucchiara (double bass) 

Wow! This was a good one! Number 90 (# 90) in the series, Rossano Sportiello revealed his Tuesday evening online sessions were inspired by fellow pianist Emmet Cohen's Monday evening lockdown sessions (the running total of Cohen's streams is way in excess of one hundred weekly sessions). Subject to touring commitments, Sportiello and Cohen continue to perform from their respective NYC apartments to an online, global audience. This evening Sportiello invited Cohen and the legendary Johnny O'Neal to join him 'Live at the Flat'. 

Facebook, YouTube, the choice was/is yours, Sportiello opened with You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to, wonderful. Cohen solo on Maple Leaf Rag, Johnny O'Neal and Cohen playing a four-hander Stompin' at the Savoy, O'Neal singing (Sportiello at the upright) Blame it on My Youth, this was wonderful late night entertainment (10:00pm here on Tyneside, five in the afternoon in the Big Apple). A Sportiello ballad original (accompanied by fellow Italian, bassist Giuseppe Cucchiara) in homage to George Shearing featuring fabulous stride piano with a nod to the Sheik of Araby. Wonderful. To end this week's stream, all three pianists sat/jostled at the piano to play an amazing six-hander After You've Gone. Bravo! Rossano Sportiello will be back at his Greenwich Village flat at the end of March as the man is soon to set off on tour. If you're anywhere near one of his tour dates you could do worse than go along on the night! Russell

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