Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Monday, August 28, 2023

Sunday night @ The Globe, Newcastle: Mark Williams Trio - August 27

(© Ken Drew)
Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Susans (double bass); Rob Walker (drums)

Hot foot from Ferg Kilsby's gig in Hexham, Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Railway Street HQ was doing good business ahead of Mark Williams taking the stage. A new album is in the offing and guitar master Williams took the opportunity to preview some original material. At a little after eight o'clock, Williams ambled onto stage with bassist Paul Susans and drummer Rob Walker.
(© Pam)
Williams' compositions are wondrous things, works of art. At one with his guitar, Williams' technical ability is mindbogglingly good. Opening with Recovery Blues and more than a hint of John Scofield, our trio leader crafted the first of several perfectly formed solos. Fifteen minutes in, we were off to a great start. From here on in it was less Scofield and more, much more Williams. Bassist Susans and drummer Walker played their parts to perfection, right on it, full-on concentration, finding time to smile, this is some trio! Choon (?, a 'Geordie' tune), extended, dense improvisations, No More (the trio stretching out again), then Weird Country took us up to the break.

Bandleader Williams doesn't say much, but when he does speak it's invariably informative, not to mention amusing. Long Way Out, where did the title come from? Have a guess. Williams had been watching TV, a scary programme about people overboard, for some reason unable to scramble back onboard (Williams the storyteller didn't elaborate), that the inspiration for the number we'd just been listening to. Williams said if we were scared listening to it, he was scared playing it! A class act, stay tuned ('chooned'?) for news of gigs and a new album release date. Russell
  
Set list: Recovery Blues; Choon; No More; Weird Country; ?; Long Way Out; Five Way Switch; Three Halves. 
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