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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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 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. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
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.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Gavin Barras Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - May 28

 (© Jeff Pritchard)
Gavin Barras (bass); Jim Collins (tenor/alto sax); Tom Harris (piano); Miles Pillinger (drums) + Helen Pillinger (tenor sax)

The first tune tonight was Cliff Burwell's Sweet Lorraine which was given a tenor sax, bass and drums treatment due to the late arrival of pianist Tom Harris who arrived halfway through the second number, It Could Happen to You, and he wasted no time in taking charge of the house upright making me wonder why I had not heard of him before. I must ask Gavin for more information on this fine musician.


I enjoyed the first set more than the second set the main reason being I had to catch the last train home at 11:09pm so I missed the final three tunes which were Satin Doll, St Thomas and Take the A Train. According to my pal Jeff who takes the photos for my reviews, Miles Pillinger was highly impressive on his drum feature St Thomas. Pillinger is the son of local tenor player and educator Helen Pillinger  who sat in with Gavin’s quartet on On Green Dolphin Street and Body and Soul.


It was an enjoyable night of straight ahead modern jazz and I must admit that Gavin Barras knows how to select the right people to play his music. He picked a winner in Jim Collins who if you missed his performance tonight you can hear him at the Railway on May 30 in the Andrew Bold Quartet. Mike Farmer

 

Sweet Lorraine; It Could Happen To You; Recorda Me; Blues for Alice; Georgia on my Mind; Moose the Mooche; Sandu; On Green Dolphin Street; Body and Soul; Satin Doll; St Thomas; Take the A Train

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