Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18083 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1047 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 14), 61.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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, August 12, 2023

Just Friends @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - August 10

Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dave Archbold (keys);  Ron Smith (bass); John Bradford (drums).

After a most unusually perfect summer's day a good sized audience attending this jazz night were treated to a fine evening of modern jazz by this popular band.

Stanley Turrentine's Sugar was a nice number to warm up on, showing how well they all played together.

An up tempo Blue Bossa played over a samba rhythm, again with excellent drums and bass backing gave Richie on sax, Ian on guitar and Dave on keys plenty of opportunity to impress. Then, by way of contrast, the ballad When Sunny Gets Blue featured Richie with some wonderful soulful sax playing.

The Eddie Harris number Cold Duck Time with its funky rhythm was followed by a lovely version of Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments. Based on a minor blues sequence it gave plenty of scope for some inventive solos by guitar, sax and keys.

John's drum intro kicked off an exciting Sonny Rollins' St.Thomas with solos all round including bass and drums. This was a crowd pleaser that brought the first set to a close and we couldn't wait for the second!

That second set opened with Nat Adderley's Work Song with it's fine sax intro and outro and also included a very tasty bass solo from Ron.

Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island was swinging with solos all round including a great drum break from John. Back At The Chicken Shack was well played with some Jimmy Smith influenced keyboard work from Dave, another nice bass solo from Ron and great sax and guitar from Richie and Ian.

After the standard Sunny, the night concluded with a driving version of Put it Where You Want it by the Crusaders. It could be said that this was the best number of the night but that would be wrong - they were all good!

What better way to finish off a fine summers day than listenning to a good jazz group? Special thanks to John Bradford for standing in for Mark Hawkins on drums. The usual thanks also go to the staff of Dorman's Club for their help and support with the jazz night Ron Hampton

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive