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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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 09: Sticky Lips @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Various city centre locations/times.
Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: 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 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.

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The Raible/Gradischnig Quintet play the music of Elmo Hope @ Gala Theatre Durham - March 17

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Steve Fishwick (trumpet, flugelhorn); Herwig Gradischnig (tenor sax); Claus Raible (piano); Giorgos Antoniou (bass); Matt Home (drums)

A beautiful spring day in Durham, the Gala Theatre studio space sold out and rightly so. This was an outstanding concert paying tribute to the inspirational music of Elmo Hope and celebrating what would have been his centenary. 

From the very first number, So Nice (Trippin'), we knew we were in for a special gig with musicians who have been touring and playing music they love throughout the UK and Europe.

(© Malcolm Sinclair)
Manchester born Steve Fishwick introduced his fellow band members who hail from Germany, Claus Raible, from Vienna, Herwig Gradischnig, from Greece, and now  a resident of Basel Switzerland, Giorgos  Antoniou along with ace UK drummer  Matt Home from Huddersfield. 

Hot Sauce, aptly named, was followed by a ballad - Mirror Mind Rose - dedicated to Hope’s first wife and featured Claus Raible on piano and Fishwick on flugel. Next was a beautiful arrangement by Hope of Dearly Beloved by Johnny Mercer and Jerome Kern, the only piece not composed by Hope.

Stars over Marrakesh transported us to the heady delights of the Souks bringing to mind snake charmers, dancers, tumblers and sellers of magic carpets. McBrown’s Galaxy featured Home on drums and Fishwick on trumpet, followed by Nieta (Spanish for granddaughter) and Mo is On.

Albums by this band Searchin' for Hope and Mo is On The music of Elmo Hope Vol 2, both acclaimed by Jazzwise and Jazz Journal, are highly recommended as is catching their next gig.

The Raible /Gradischnig Quintet are individually brilliant musicians, together they soar. Pam

1 comment :

Russell said...

Sounds like a great gig.

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