Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Tom Remon - Sid Jacobs Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 24

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Tom Remon (guitar); Sid Jacobs (guitar); James Owston (bass); Jim Bashford (drums).

As expected, this Sunday night gig turned out to be a room filler and I’m pretty certain there were many fans of modern jazz guitar amongst the audience. Tom Remon has played this venue on at least two occasions but Sid Jacobs  was unknown to me and after checking the internet for information I was eager to hear him play.

Both guitarists were seated at the front of the small bandstand, Jacobs on the left, Remon on the right and at 9:00pm they went straight into It Ain’t Necessarily So from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. I’ve liked this number ever since I heard it on the Jazztet’s debut album. 

James Owston has played here before and together with drummer Jim Bashford, who I have read favourable reviews about but have not seen before, sounded like a first class rhythm section and gave great support to the guitarists. 


During You Stepped Out of a Dream the drummer held my attention by using his hands throughout the entire tune. The contrasting styles of the guitars I found interesting Jacobs very technically impressive with lots of unusual chords and Remon having a more emotional approach with some note bending and maybe some George Benson influence. For the last two numbers an alto sax player joined the group who I think was called Colin Campbell but I may have misheard this. He sounded very modern and I would have liked to chat with him but had to dash off to catch my ride home. 


The next jazz at the Railway is on March 26 with John Hulme and the Paul Hartley Quartet. Mike Farmer


It Ain’t Necessarily So; Segment; Darn That Dream; You Stepped Out of a Dream; Feet’in Two Worlds; Very Early; Funkallero;  For Okay; Along Came Betty; You and the Night and the Music.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

nice piece, but the guy's surname is Remon and not as stated

Lance said...

Well spotted. Thank you. Now corrected.

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