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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

September.

Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Monday, February 12, 2024

Munch Manship Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Feb. 11

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Munch Manship (flute/tenor sax); Richard Wetherall  (keyboards); Dave Lynane  (bass); Dave Hassell (drums).

Always a sure-fire room filler, Munch started the concert before a packed house with a lively rendition of that much played standard Softly as in a Morning Sunrise. ably assisted by a superb rhythm section of the two Daves plus Richard Wetherall who for this gig brought with him a full-size 88 note Nord Grand keyboard. Most regulars at this venue are used to hearing Richard on the house upright piano but tonight the volume level was up a notch as was the energy vibe.  

Those who have seen Munch many times over the years will have a good idea of who some of his favourite composers are and out of the eleven numbers played tonight, we heard compositions from such as Freddie Hubbard, Tubby Hayes, Luis Bonfá, Benny Carter, Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Ellington and Clifford Brown, A pretty varied selection I thought, something for everyone.


Munch utilised his flute to good effect and showed his expertise in ¾ waltz time on Tubby Hayes' tune In the Night. I also liked his fluting on Samba de Orpheus. Equally impressive was an ultra fast Airegin which brought to a close an excellent evening of hard- swinging jazz. 


The next jazz night at the Railway will be on February 13 with Paul Hartley, Julian Gregory, Mathew Compton and Peter Wilmott.

 

Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Up Jumped Spring; The Jamfs Are Coming; Samba de Orpheus; In a Sentimental Mood; St Thomas; Joy Spring; A Weaver of Dreams; Only Trust Your Heart; In the Night; Airegin.

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