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.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon - May 15

(© Roly Veitch)
Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums) 

The Black Bull is under new management. Following the recent retirement of Carl and Jackie, their successor, Dean, has been busy: the two-room community pub on Bridge Street has been given a lick of paint, new lights have been installed and further improvements are in the pipeline. One thing remains the same and that's the third Monday in the month Blaydon Jazz Club session. This evening's concert featured one of the very best musicians around, be it here in Blaydon, the UK or on Planet Earth. 

They turned out in force for this one and little wonder, when Lewis Watson is in town it's no contest, you just have to be there. Two of the regulars brought along four or five friends and/or relatives, it could be the way forward...you go to your local jazz club, you take along a friend and you double the attendance! Best seats bagged with a Consett Ale Works beer in hand, as tenor saxophonist Watson's ace quartet took to the stage, this evening promised to be something special. Wayne Shorter's Yes and No opened the show, wow! Absolutely stunning, post-bop tenor sax to die for. The giants of the music are in there - Trane, Rollins et al - yet there is the distinctive voice of Lewis Watson, a magisterial tenor player. 

Watson's band mates - guitarist Mark Williams, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer John Bradford - were well up to the mark, soloing as and when required. George Adams' Autumn Song, Song for Keith (for the late Keith Morris), more Shorter in the form of El Gaucho, quite a first set! 

Second set, more of the same, more brilliant tenor playing. A commanding Lover Man, Coltrane at the heart of so much of the music we were hearing here at the Black Bull, these were moments to cherish, every single note. All four musicians firing on all cylinders, Joe Henderson's Inner Urge brought the evening to a close. It had been quite an evening. Lewis Watson doesn't gig too often, more's the shame. Next time he's out and about do yourself a favour, make a point of being there. 

Next month (Monday 19 June) Blaydon Jazz Club presents Pete Tanton's 'Chet Set'. Highly recommended. Russell           
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