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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

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).

Monday, August 28, 2023

Ferg Kilsby Quartet @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - August 27

(© Russell)
Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Joe Steels (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

The latest in Joe Steels' monthly Sunday afternoon sessions featured soon-to-be-departing local lad, Ferg Kilsby. Trumpeter Ferg is shortly to embark upon an adventure of a lifetime. Halls of residence sorted, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London beckons. This afternoon, leading a band at such a young age must have be a daunting experience, leading a band of A-listers must have be something else! 

(© Russell)
Two sets comprising jazz standards and original compositions, Ferg was joined by the aforementioned Joe Steels (guitar) plus Andy Champion (bass) and our trumpeter's fellow Tyne Valley resident, drummer John Hirst. Smart company, indeed. Opening with Herbie Hancock's Eye of the Hurricane, this was Ferg the storm chaser, no fear! 

Three of Ferg's as yet untitled compositions made the cut, the first of them an audition piece for the Royal Academy School of Music. Our bandleader candidly revealed he wasn't offered a place at the venerable institution. It's the Royal Academy's loss, Trinity's gain! John Coltrane's ballad form Lonnie's Lament showed us just what Ferg can do - tremendous! 

(© Chris K)
Cole Porter's What is This Thing Called Love?, Tadd Dameron's Lady Bird, Kenny Wheeler's Omno, three varied charts, each handled with aplomb by Ferg and his A-list sidemen. Introducing Beatrice, little did Ferg know, some years earlier, in the adjacent cafe, the great tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson conjured up a magical take on Sam Rivers' much loved number. Lewis, Ferg, who'll be next to play it here at Queen's Hall?

A couple more original numbers, a couple of standards dating from the '30s, trumpeter Ferg covered the waterfront. It goes without saying that Joe, Andy and John were the business, we'd expect nothing less, but, let's be honest, the day belonged to Ferg Kilsby. Russell        

Set list: Eye of the Hurricane; Untitled (1)*; Lonnie's Lament; What Is This Thing Called Love?; Ladybird; Omno; Beatrice; Untitled (2);  If I Love Again; Untitled (3); You're My Everything.    
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