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

18844 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 708 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 27) 77.

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

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 03: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 03: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Feat. Ian Bosworth (guitar); Ron Hampton (guitar); Riche Emmerson (tenor sax); Dan Johnson (tenor sax, alto sax); Garry Hadfield (keyboards); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: FUNK: new musicians collective @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.00. Line-up inc. Chris Caygill & Daniel Chandler.
Fri 04: The Upside + Lagos to Longbenton @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00. Ska, funk, Afro-fusion & more.

Sat 05: Alligator Gumbo @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 05: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Hartlepool Art Gallery. 4:00-6:15pm. £6.00. Concert performance. Tickets available from the venue - tel: 01429 869706.
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 06: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums) & guest Mick Donnelly (tenor sax).
Sun 06: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Nils Kavanagh Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Dorman's All Stars @ Dorman's Jazz Club Middlesbrough Sept. 21

Jeremy McMurray (piano); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Kevin Eland (trumpet/flugel); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).

Due to holiday arrangements this was the second guest band of the month. However, this led to the formation of some of the best jazz musicians who have regularly played here.

An excellent choice of materiel played with great enthusiasm and skill to an appreciative audience with an age range from 16 (James) to 92 (Frank) made for a first class night of jazz.

Starting the night with an impressive version of  the Nat Adderley classic Work Song with full band intro before a fine trumpet solo from Kevin, sax from Richie and piano from Jeremy backed by driving drums and bass from Mark and Ron set the style and the standard for the night.

A nice interpretation of On Green Dolphin St with both the tune's Latin and swing rhythms providing backing for great solo work.

A tribute to Miles Davis then followed with Kevin using muted trumpet on both All Blues and Freddie Freeloader to great effect.

The mood changed with a swinging Fly Me To The Moon before bringing the tempo down a little to finish the first set  off with Milt Jackson's Bags Groove.

Monk's Straight, No Chaser made for an exciting start to the second set with terrific solos from trumpet, piano and sax before a round of fours finished it off.

A relaxed Sonny Rollins' Doxy was followed by Luiz Bonfá's beautiful Latin number  Manhã de Carnival which featured Linda singing and Kevin on flugel.

Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments again had Kevin on flugel before reverting back to trumpet for Clifford Brown's  Sandu - a blues played with great feeling by the whole band.

The penultimate number was the fast swinging John Coltrane composition Mr P.C. with blistering trumpet, piano, tenor  and Mark with a fine drum solo.
A more relaxed John Coltrane number Blue Train had solos all round including a bass chorus from Ron bringing this excellent night of jazz to a close.

(Quoting words from Richie) "It was a cracker! Great to play stuff by Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Miles Davis again. Thoroughly absorbing on stage with Kev, Jeremy, Ron and Mark. Well played lads! As usual to a very appreciative audience".

Thanks go to the staff of Dormans Club for their help and support. Ron Hampton

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