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.

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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