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

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

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: 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.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Snake Davis, Don Richardson & Alistair Anderson @ Helmsley Arts Centre – Jan. 20

Snake Davis (soprano. tenor sax, flute, penny whistle, vocals); Don Richardson (double bass); Alistair Anderson (English concertina (Northumbrian pipes)

It was the presence of the name Alistair Anderson – renowned Northumbrian Pipe and English Concertina player on a flyer in the Helmsley Arts Centre that attracted my eye. Snake Davis (then unknown to me) also sounded intriguing. 

Snake Davis is a saxophonist and a respected touring artist and session musician. He has had a long collaboration with bassist Don Richardson, also highly respected in his field. Both have musical associations with many of the great and good of both the jazz and rock spheres.

The trio with Alastair Anderson is a new venture and we were treated to the world première. The gig consisted of two fourty-five minute sets with an extended interval during which we were invited by Snake to go to the bar, make love, take drugs – or whatever suited our fancy – very rock and roll!

Each set incorporated items written by individual band members with one or two members sitting out for individual items.  The near capacity audience were thrilled by the performance and applauded warmly – even joining in Hey Jude for the penultimate number. The trio were also most appreciative of the warm Helmsley reception.

The trio are performing in the North East at Rocking Horse Café and Gallery near Alnwick. Tickets are £47.50 per person and include a 2 course meal (Tickets 01665 579041, or via Facebook or Instagram pages. Hugh C

Further gigs in the tour are more Yorkshire based and at Ropery Hall, Barton on Humber, Sunday 28 January Music (roperyhall.co.uk)

Round Here (Migden/Richardson); Ivaldo Mendonca/The Big Dance (Anderson); Cedar on Maple (Richardson); Solo by Anderson; In a Sentimental Mood (Ellington); West Road (Anderson); My Love  (Mariachi el Bronx); Love Will Keep us Alive (Carrack, Capaldi, Vale); Hopscotch (Anderson); Reaching Out (Davis); Will Eye (Richardson); Blue Monk (Monk); Hesketh Pool (Anderson); Tom Hanks (Unknown); Afrikan Market Place (Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim); Hey Jude (Lennon and McCartney); Ancient Dreams (Whitehead)

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