Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 544 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 3) 8

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

July

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Kevin Eland (trumpet).
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 07: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Sax on the Tyne @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00. Feat. Sax on the Tyne & St George’s Community Choir.
Wed 08: Abbie Finn Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: 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 10: Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Olly Styles & Jacob Egglestone @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 10: Archipelago @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:00pm . New album fundraiser gig.
Fri 10: King Bees @ Rebel Yell, Nelson St., Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Sat 11: Spanish City Rollers @ Community Stage: Mouth of the Tyne Festival, Front Street, Tynemouth. 12 noon. Free.
Sat 11: Jazz Stage: Mouth of the Tyne Festival (o/s Tynemouth Priory), Tynemouth. Free. Vieux Carré Hot 4 (12 noon); Rendezvous Jazz (1:00pm); Castillo Nuevo Trio (2:00pm); Classic Swing (3:00pm); Abbie Finn Trio (4:00pm). Day 1/2.
Sat 11: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man + Adam Millington @ St John’s Chapel, Town Hall, Weardale DL13 1QF. 5:00pm (doors). £16.26., £10.84., £8.67., £5.42 (under 18).
Sat 11: Milne Glendinning Band @ Langley Tracks, Langley-on-Tyne. 5:30pm.
Sat 11: Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm.
Sat 11: Karberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 7:00pm. £7.00.
Sat 11: Ray Quinn: The King of Swing @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Pete Tanton's Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre - Nov. 28

 (© Mike Tilley)
Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

There would be sleet, there would be snow, 'tis the season, but not before the Chet Set. On a freezing midweek evening November's jazz concert at Newcastle Arts Centre attracted an encouragingly large audience. The Black Swan jam sessions are the stuff of legend, such is the popularity of the twice monthly jam night it's not unheard of for a 'one in, one out' policy to be in operation. This evening the adjoining performance space opened its doors to accommodate an expectant audience.

 (© Mike Tilley)
Pete Tanton cuts a 'Johnny Lonely' figure - affable, approachable, seemingly lost in thought in a 'Let's Get Lost' world. Whatever was happening out there on the street, for the next couple of hours or so we were invited to tag along as Pete explored the life and times of West Coast cool jazz icon Chet Baker. But Not for Me sang Chet/Pete. Throughout the evening's two sets Pete's engaging, intimate, at times conversational, vocals drew the listener ever-closer. 

(© Russell)
Pete's Chet Set featured pianist Alan Law, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer John Bradford. Their collective attention to detail and sensitivity towards the material made for a winning formula. The casual jazz fan, indeed the non-jazz fan, couldn't be other than impressed. The life story of the evening's subject - Chet Baker - is one of many chapters, and Pete's conversational narrative alluded to Baker's poll-winning success in an era of many illustrious trumpeters (Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro...), the women in his life, the drug-taking, but, the music, the jazz, that's what hit home. The ballads (I Fall in Love Too Easily, My Funny Valentine), a cookin' Just Friends, It Could Happen to You and a set closing Look for the Silver Lining, performed by four top class musicians, made for a great gig. Russell                      

Set list: But Not for Me; The More I See You; I Fall in Love Too Easily; There'll Never Be Another You; Silent Night; That Old Feeling; Frenesi; I Remember You; Let's Get Lost; My Funny Valentine; Time After Time; Just Friends; It Could Happen to You; Look for the Silver Lining
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1 comment :

Jeff Jinx said...


The night was indeed freezing, but the atmosphere at The Black Swan was in distinct opposition. A welcoming, responsive, little crowd in the perfect setting. First time for me. I came with high-hopes and left elated. Pete Tanton's Chet Set expelled my austerity blues with a spry mix of conversation, sincere vocals and musicianship of the highest form. The sound mix was a comfortable, detailed, separation of instruments allowing each to shine individually and blend perfectly to the dictates of interpretation. As a Chet Baker fan, I was moved by their command of the material AND thrilled when they 'broke loose' and let the music fly. Jazz REALLY works live and these gentlemen have the skills to make it stratospheric. Can't wait to return. Great band, cool place, nice people.

Tuesday, December 05, 2023 1:24:00 AM

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