Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

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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