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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Monday, September 04, 2023

Jazz @ St. James’ and St. Basil’s, Fenham: Hand to Mouth - Sept. 3

Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Bradley Johnston (guitar)

Both Lindsay and Bradley are well known to readers of BSH through their work with various ensembles in the area and wider afield. Recently we have seen Lindsay with her excellent Tom Waits tribute Tom Waits for No Man and Bradley with the also excellent Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord. However, this outing brought them together with their Hand to Mouth collaboration perfect for a sunny afternoon in the beautiful church gardens.

This class collaboration was born of Bradley and Lindsay’s love of the work of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass and several of today's offerings were taken from the album ‘Fitzgerald and Pass…Again' including a beautiful (if slightly premature) version of 'Tis Autumn and a very tender All Too Soon. At one point Lindsay claimed  that she’s not a romantic person but her version of You Stepped Out of a Dream would have melted any hardened heart. However, it wasn’t all ballads I Can’t Give You Anything But Love showed that they could swing like…whatever swings a lot!

Whilst the church garden is a beautiful setting there was always the worry that traffic noise from the adjacent road would overwhelm the gentle ballads and beautiful love songs. Not a bit of it!  Bradley’s intricate guitar solos and Lindsay’s voice rang through and  wrapped the large appreciative  audience in a bubble of beautiful music. It was over All Too Soon and Ms Hannon’s assertion that she is not a romantic person remains open to discussion.

Unfortunately this was the last jazz afternoon offering from St. James’ and St. Basil’s for this summer. Well done Tony Roberts and the team! We look forward to next year. Sylvia T

Songs included: Dindi;  All Too Soon; Nothing But the Blues;  Mean to Me;  Easy Come Easy Go;  I Can’t Give You Anything But Love;  Come Rain or Come Shine;  The Very Thought of You;  Some Other Time;  (In My) Solitude

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