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.

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).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Monday, April 24, 2023

Robin Sunflower Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - April 23

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Robin Sunflower (harmonicas); Richard Wetherall (piano); Matt Owen (bass); Danny Ward (drums)

Unlike his last appearance at this venue on March 24, Robin Sunflower’s line-up for this gig included piano, double bass and drums. There were no vocals tonight and the total tunes played added up to an amazing seventeen.


We heard lots of great compositions by Toots Thielemans, a musician who I never saw live, as well as tunes by other writers such as Charlie Chaplin, Wayne Shorter, and Jimi Hendrix. Richard Wetherall was an important part of this group and he always gets a great sound out of the house upright piano. Matt Owen and Danny Ward on bass and drums did a great job of keeping the tempos spot on.


There was a good sized audience for this tribute night and they showed their appreciation after each number.


For some of the tunes Robin used a larger harmonica about two foot long (see photo) and produced some strange growling sounds which I found was effective and added a touch of humour to the proceedings especially on Midnight Cowboy.  


I was pleased that Robin decided to play as his final number, Toot’s most famous tune Bluesette as this reminded me of a trip down to Ronnie Scott’s to see tenor legend Illinois Jacquet. His organist Milt Buckner played this tune as a solo feature and he took it in and out of ¾ time. Not many people play Bluesette  these days but I thought Robin’s version was a fitting end to an excellent tribute to the late Belgian musician who if he was still around would be 101 years old this Saturday April 29.


The next jazz night at the Railway will be Tuesday April 25 with the Paul Hartley Quartet featuring John Hulme. Mike Farmer

 

Sophisticated Lady; Sesame Street; Struttin' With Some Barbecue; Quiet Nights; Indian Nuts; Footprints; Little Wing; Tenor Madness; Midnight Cowboy; Darktown Strutters' Ball; Dark Eyes; Smile; Dat Mistig & Rosie Beest (Dutch Film); Blackbird; The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face; For my Lady. Bluesette. 

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