Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The Black Swan jam session - May 16

A top class house trio, sitters-in galore, few, if any, students, Esther Coombes an honourable exception, newcomers and veteran jam session participants, they - and a sizeable audience - turned out despite the counter attraction of watching Sunderland struggling in vain to reach the 'Promised Land' of the Premier League and its riches.

Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger and Mark Robertson got the show on the road in style with three jam session staples - Ain't Misbehavin'This Masquerade and On Green Dolphin Street. First up, Luis Verde. Now resident in Newcastle, our Spaniard is rapidly becoming the star attraction here at the Black Swan. If bop to post bop to contemporary alto saxophone is you're thing, be sure to check out Luis!

Pianist Ben Phillips arrived. Well, well, the man plays a pretty mean trumpet! Later he would sit at the keyboard. Some guys have all the talent. Luis wasn't the only alto player in the house, Esther Coombes pitched in (later leading on Mr PC), as did Steve Summers. The phrase 'Alto Sax Summit' sprung to mind. 

As Mark Robertson went in search of refreshment, Kris Finney and Michael Mather sat in, both more than capable of handing whichever numbers were called (Mather on the drum stool as Showtime, that's David Gray, sang The Shadow of Your Smile). Kate O'Neill, up from Teesside, sang a couple including That Ole Devil Called Love. The multi-talented Stu Collingwood sang Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Aye, they're a talented bunch here at the Black Swan.

MC Paul Grainger marshalled the troops for the outer saying: We'll have a kick around on Blue Monk. And that's precisely what they did, all blowing on one of  Thelonious Monk's many much-loved tunes. The next Black Swan jam session is set for Tuesday June 6. It'll be a prompt seven thirty start, don't be late!  
     
Stu Collingwood (piano, vocals); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums) + (in something like order of appearance) Luis Verde (alto sax); Ben Phillips (trumpet, piano); Liam (guitar); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Adam Sams (guitar); Kris Finney (drums); Steve Summers (alto sax); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Kate O'Neill (vocals); Michael Mather (drums); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Owen Jones (double bass); ? (bass guitar); Alon Dagon (piano); Ray Burns (harmonica)

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