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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Bailey Rudd (drum kit): Minor Creative Project @ Music Studios, Newcastle University - April 17

Postgraduate music student Bailey Rudd presented his Drum Kit, Minor Creative Project recital performance at an unlikely time of day, 11:45am to be precise. Considering Bailey and five of his bandmates working alongside him this morning were out late last night at a jam session, there was a spring in their collective step. 

Bailey's programme notes outlined his dissertation (researching how local, traditional and contemporary jazz scenes survive). Bailey wrote of his recital: This will be a history of the musics that influence the British contemporary jazz scene today. Joining Bailey in his endeavours were no fewer than nine fellow graduates/undergraduates. 

Should I? (Dejan's Olympia Brass Band) opened the performance, typically New Orleans, second line and all. Bailey's bandmates showed great enthusiasm, no doubt reassuring our examinee no end! And onto the next number, Count Basie's Whirly Bird. Shorn of one of the great trumpet sections in jazz, Olly Styles (tenor sax), Conor Emery (trombone) and Jacob Egglestone (trumpet) did a fine job in evoking the spirit of the The Atomic Mr. Basie recording, Bailey himself producing an extended solo inspired by Buddy Rich, Sonny Payne and Butch Miles. We were hearing Bailey as never before, absolutely terrific!

Referencing Ezra Collective, Bailey played Joe Cain & His Orchestra's Que Paso. Our examinee's programme notes read: The listener should hear a 2/3 clave in the A section, fluidly switching to a 2/3 clave in the B. We were listening. Fela Kuti & Africa 70's Water No Get Enemy paid homage to the late Tony Allen (Bailey painstakingly transcribing the material). Breakbeats have become part of the drummer's repertoire and Bailey set about showing how it's done with Amen Break Mashup. Blistering, snapping work on the snare, the recital was going well! To conclude, Intentions by local heroes SwanNek (the band's drummer, one B. Rudd). That was a nice touch, staying rooted in the local scene.                  

Bailey Rudd - and his bandmates - did a great job. What of the future for Bailey? Onwards and upwards. Russell 
      
Bailey Rudd (drums) + Olly Styles (tenor sax); Conor Emery (trombone); Ruby Oldknow (flute); Jacob Egglestone (trumpet, guitar); Louis Wild (keyboards); Findlay Hewitson (keyboards); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Jake Baines (bass guitar); Josh Weir (percussion)

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