Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

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

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

David William Sanborn (July 30, 1945 – May 12, 2024)

© Flore
The passing of David Sanborn heralded the loss of one of the all-time greats of soul/jazz alto playing. Already the obituaries are sprouting up from wherever he sowed the seeds of his greatness. I'm not going down that road, more erudite writers than me will have already done that so, instead, I'm going to reflect on the three occasions that I saw/heard him live.

Nov. 15, 2011: Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, London. With Joey DeFrancesco on Hammond and Byron Landham on drums this was a mind-blowing set that stood head and shoulders above anything else at that year's London Jazz Festival. REVIEW.

Nov. 18, 2013: The Barbican, London. Two years later, almost to the day, I was once again knocked sideways. This time he was with Bob James (piano); Scott Colley (bass) and Steve Gadd (drums). Come the end, a lady sitting next to me said "I'm going to get that CD". Not only did she do so but also sent a mini REVIEW and a cartoon. I wonder where she is now? My REVIEW.

April 11, 2015: Gateshead International Jazz Festival @ Sage, Gateshead. Looking back it seems as though I found him too perfect - as if that was a crime! If it is then he must surely now be given a posthumous pardon. His playing at all three gigs was as funky as they come. REVIEW. 

David Sanborn was 78. May he Rest In Peace. Lance

PODCAST LINK. (See comment by Colin Muirhead) 

at

3 comments :

Steve T said...

I too was at the Barbican gig. I seem to recall that was the same year we didn't see Sonny Rollins, who cancelled due to ill-health. My best man and landlord in London is a massive Bowie fan so I knew he'd be up for it (Sanborn plays on the Young Americans album).

I saw him again at the Cheltenham Festival and when he sat down, I wondered whether he could still play. Oh yes.

As a young man, I was never a big fan, as he came into my radar at a time when jazz-funk was descending into smooth jazz and I was descending into a jazz snob. Friends of mine went to Manchester to see him when he supported Al Jarreau, but it was more for Sanborn.

I'm DJing in Durham on friday and will be playing Bob James-Touchdown, Steve Khan-Darling Darling Baby, Batann's version of the Bottle and his own Let's Just Say Goodbye.

Incidentally, James' Angela (theme from Taxi) was playing in the taxi from Louis Armstrong airport to our accomodation last year, which I took as a good sign.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 12:29:00 pm
Steve T said...

Due to popular demand it looks like I'll be adding Chicago Song and Butterfat to my playlist on friday.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 1:50:00 pm
Colin Muirhead said...

This is sad news. I plan to pay my own tribute to David on the next edition of Jazz on the Tyne. In the meantime, I would recommend you check out a series of podcasts by David called As We Speak. They started last autumn and feature conversations with Sonny Rollins, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Pat Metheny and Samara Joy, amongst others. You can find them here: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1201331649/as-we-speak-with-david-sanborn

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 3:40:00 pm

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