Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

May

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.
Fri 08: Salty Dog @ Station East, Hills Street, Gateshead. 8:00pm. Free.

Sat 09: The Vieux Carré Hot 4 'Festival of Blossom' @ Seaton Delaval Hall National Trust. 12:30 - 3.00pm. Free event (admission applies).
Sat 09: SH#RP Collective w. Lindsay Hannon @ Church of Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00 (inc. a welcome drink). Advance booking essential. Bring own snacks, drinks to be purchased at ‘donations’ bar. All proceeds to charity. A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sat 09: East Coast Swing Band @ Jubilee Hall, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £10.00.

Sun 10: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 12 noon. Free. Note earlier start.
Sun 10: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 10: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 10: The Chet Set @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.
Sun 10: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 11: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 12: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 13: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 13: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 13: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 13: Hey Remember This @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 14: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Philip Larkin’s Jazz Experiment.
Thu 14: Jerron Paxton @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb country blues.
Thu 14: Jacob Egglestone @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums) & guests.

Wednesday, April 05, 2023

Gavin Barras Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - April 4

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Gavin Barras (bass guitar); Sam Lightwing (tenor sax); Jamada Roberts (keys); Tim Franks (drums).

This gig was listed in the April flyer as by Ed Kainyek but for some reason Ed did not appear so Gavin Barras took over the band-leading duties and announced the tunes. Tonight Gavin played bass guitar instead of upright bass due to having back problems and was sitting on a stool to the right of the bandstand. Making their debut at this venue were two musicians new to me and doing a first class job, tenorman Sam Lightwing and keyboardman Jamada Roberts.

A few minutes into the opening number Tenor Madness I knew this was going to be an enjoyable night, the chemistry was apparent even though the replacements had only been called at very short notice. There was no pre-arranged set list. After each tune there was a short chat about what came next and I must say I liked their selection which included compositions by Sonny Rollins, Jerome Kern, Juan Tizol, Horace Silver and Kenny Dorham. Plenty to interest the audience which, although smaller than usual, responded with enthusiasm especially in the second half.


The regular jazz fans were in attendance but also some people whom I had never seen before seemed to like what they heard and there was some whoopin’ and hollerin’. The standard On the Sunny Side of the Street was well received and Sam Lightwing really nailed it. He has a sound on his sax which made me think of the late great Charlie Rouse especially during the second tune tonight Stella By Starlight. Sam told me he is a big Dexter Gordon fan and that’s something I always like to hear.


Regarding Jamada Roberts, the word exceptional springs to mind. He was inspiring the whole room and he did not put a foot wrong. The rhythm section did everything to make the gig memorable and a big hand to Gavin Barras for his work on bass guitar.


The next jazz night at the Railway will be on Sunday April 9 with Dean Masser. Mike Farmer

 

Tenor Madness; Stella by Starlight; All the Things You Are; Some Day my Prince Will Come; Blue Bossa; Caravan; Song For my Father; Sunny Side of the Street; My Favorite Things; I Got Rhythm; St Thomas.

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