Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

September.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Greg Abate Quartet @ Severn Arts, Chapel Allerton - Nov. 16

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Greg Abate (alto sax/flute); Martin Longhawn (piano); John Marley (bass); Tim Carter (drums).

Due to mobility problems I hadn't managed to attend any of the previous gigs on Greg's 2023 UK tour but this was one that I did not want to miss even though it meant an overnight stay in Leeds and some travel by train, coach, and local bus to reach the venue. I have been to some great concerts at the Seven Arts all organised by the multi-tasking bassist Steve Crocker who is also involved in all sorts of jazz-related activity in this location and others including jam sessions and workshops.

At 8:00pm it was time for the main event and Greg started by saying he had already received two requests Billie's Bounce and Killer Joe and proceeded to play them, blowing his alto with such ferocity on the opening number that I was amazed he didn’t split his reed in half! I was surprised to learn that the person who requested Killer Joe was a person from Stockport who I had chatted with at the Railway recently. Greg has fans everywhere and we met one in the Indian restaurant when we popped in for a curry before the gig who lived in Keighley, Yorkshire. Martin Longhawn I had seen at the Railway with Dave Lynane’s band but John Marley and Tim Carter were new to me and they did a fantastic job on bass and drums. If I had medals I would give them to all three. I noticed that the only original that Greg played was his up-tempo On the Road the remainder being a mixture of bop classics and not many standards. We got to hear some great Charlie Parker numbers and a couple by Joe Henderson also one each by John Lewis and Benny Golson.


Billie’s Bounce; Killer Joe; Recorda Me; Angel Eyes; On The Road; Ornithology; My Little Suede Shoes; Afternoon In Paris; Confirmation; Inner Urge; That’s All.


Earlier, an unexpected treat was hearing the excellent Jasha Bingham Trio (Jasha Bingham piano, Sean Blake bass, and Adam Scott drums) who came on at 7:00pm and played a short set of four tunes: Nardis; On Green Dolphin Street; I-O; and Emily. The trio was well worth checking out and you can see them on the internet doing Nardis.


A big thank you to my friend and photographer Jeff Pritchard who organised this road trip including tickets, hotel accommodation at the Ibis Budget hotel which is not far from Leeds bus station. This Sunday (Nov 19) I will be back at the Railway for the Mark Herdman Quartet featuring Neil Yates. Mike Farmer

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