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).

Friday, October 06, 2023

Album review: The Viper Club - Tain't no Use

Jérôme Etcheberry (trumpet); Tcha Limberger (violin/voice); Sébastien Girardot (bass); Dave Kelbie (guitar)

Based around the Onyx Club band led by Stuff Smith and Jonah Jones in the 1930s this is as good as it gets when it comes to music that swings. Imagine a truncated version of The House of the Black Gardenia and you're getting close.

French trumpet player Etcheberry is amazingly powerful without coming across as brash or flamboyant and, alongside Belgian violinist and vocalist Limberger the duo bring pre-war NYC to life. Backed by (quote) 'the Rolls Royce of rhythm sections' - no Citroëns or Peugeots for these guys - in the form of French bassist Girardot and British guitarist Kelbie the music swings like only music from that era can. 

A choice selection of classic songs including a few vocals by Limburger this is the era personified. It doesn't get any better than this or does it...? On November 5, at the Classic Jazz Party, Rico Tomasso, Emma Fisk, Josh Duffee and a few others will be mining this rich seam. Win, lose or draw, that too is going to be well worth hearing. Lance 

Available October 9 on Camille Productions MS072023CD

Lawd You Made the Night Too Long (v); Onyx Club Spree; Ballin' the Jack; Tain't no Use; I'm Putting All my Eggs in One Basket; I Hope Gabriel Likes my Music (v); Smoke Rings; Baby Brown; Undecided; My Blue Heaven (v); Swanee River; I'm Crazy 'bout my Baby (v); Viper's Moan; 'S Wonderful; My Walking Stick (v); Wabash Blues; After You've Gone (v)

1 comment :

Russell said...

The Viper Club's album launch will be at Le Son del la Terre, Paris on Tuesday 7 November. Book that flight, now!

Blog Archive