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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

The Giles Strong Quartet @ The Old Black Cat Jazz Club, Sunderland - Feb. 16

Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

Seventeen Nineteen is at the heart of 'Old Sunderland'. Standing on the south bank of the Wear in Hendon, the recently renovated listed building is home to a wide range of events and this evening saw the launch of the Old Black Cat Jazz Club. The first in a series of monthly concerts featured the Giles Strong Quartet. 

Here at Seventeen Nineteen it was heartening to see a good turn out for this inaugural jazz event. The former Georgian church is an impressive space and the 'chamber jazz' of the Giles Strong Quartet made best use of the acoustics. A virtuoso guitarist, Giles Strong is a firm favourite on the regional jazz scene and beyond. Joining Giles were trumpeter Pete Tanton, bassist Ian Paterson and drummer John Bradford, three of the most empathetic musicians one could wish to hear. 

Billie's Blues (or is it Billy's Blues?) opened the first set followed by Mubo, two of Giles' original compositions, the musicianship simply immaculate. What would the Sunderland audience make of it? One or two were familiar 'jazz' faces, the others, perhaps they were new to it all. Judging by the frequent applause they liked what they were hearing! Our good-humoured bandleader introduced his bandmates thus: 'the extraordinary' Pete Tanton, 'the beautiful' Ian Paterson (the jury's out!), and 'the exquisite' John Bradford. Laughter all round!

John Bradford's filigree brushes and light use of sticks on Days of Wine and Roses were an object lesson in sensitivity and taste, John Lewis' Django and Giles' contrafact of There'll  Never be Another You, You'll be There, I'll be Here showcased the quartet's collective sensibilities to the wide-ranging material, and the groove of Brother T featuring Ian Paterson's subtle funk lines ensured this first jazz gig at Seventeen Nineteen in 'Old Sunderland' was nothing other than a great success. 

Next month's Old Black Cat Jazz Club session on Friday 15 March presents Mick Shoulder's hugely popular Swing Manouche. Book in advance at: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Russell    
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