Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

Sun 18: Louis Louis Louis @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 2:00pm (doors). £15.00. Swing, jump jive, rhythm & blues. Fundraiser for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Sun 18: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Rod Sinclair.
Sun 18: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Herdman-Strong Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

Saturday, May 06, 2023

Pete Tanton's Chet Set @ The Vault, Hexham - May 5

Pete Tanton (trumpet, vocals); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

Pete Tanton, Chet Baker, a welcoming venue, an attentive audience, all the ingredients for an enjoyable, successful gig. The Vault on Hallgate is an ancient, stone built, vaulted cellar converted into a bijou performance space hosting a range of events. This evening's 'First Friday' jazz concert presented trumpeter Pete Tanton's Chet Set, a project evolving out of the American's Rivera Quartet gigs. Pete stood out front, the piano, bass and drums of Alan Law, Mick Shoulder and John Bradford shoe-horned onto the snug stage behind. 
The More I See You
, I Fall in Love Too Easily, There'll Never Be Another You, this was Pete in Chet Baker mode. More than effective vocals, effortlessly 'cool school' trumpet playing, the man from Alabama (long-since resident this side of the Atlantic) is as close to '50s Chet Baker as you're likely to hear. It helps that Pete possesses the accent, of course it does, similarly his easy going nature cannot but help draw in the audience to his Chet Baker world. Another bonus is the presence, the contributions of Alan, Mick and John. Three fine musicians, their support invaluable. Alan's beautifully crafted, distinctive solos were a joy to listen to, Mick's bass playing was exactly what was required, and hats off to John playing the entire evening with brushes - something of a masterclass, you could say.

Highlights were many, not least But Not for Me (a favourite of Pete's), Lets Get Lost and the evening's fully deserved encore, Look for the Silver Lining.

Pete Tanton's Chet Set is a 'win-win' affair - the jazz fan 'gets it' and the casual listener cannot fail to like it. The Chet Set can be heard again next weekend (Sunday May 14) at St James' & St Basil's Church in Fenham, Newcastle. 3:00pm. The Vault's next jazz gig is on Friday May 19 featuring, all the way from London, the brilliant Windy City Weatherbirds. Advance booking from: www.thevaulthexham.com. Russell

The set list: The More I See YouI Fall in Love Too EasilyThere'll Never Be Another YouYou Don't Know What Love IsMy BuddyThat Old FeelingBut Not for MeI Get Along Without You Very WellI Remember YouLet's Get LostMy Funny ValentineJust FriendsIt Could Happen to YouLook for the Silver Lining.

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