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, May 20, 2024

Suzanne Fonseca Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - May 19

© Jeff Pritchard
Suzanne Fonseca (trombone); Jim Collins (tenor sax); Richard Wetherall (piano); Gavin Barras (bass).

Making his second appearance here this week and playing the same vintage Conn M tenor sax was Jim Collins a musician who never fails to impress me with his great sound and inventive solos. I think tenor sax and trombone make a good combination and when you have top piano man Richard Wetherall on board and Gavin Barras behind his double bass you have all the ingredients for a first class evening of modern jazz.  I was pleased to see a lot of the Sunday night regulars were back in attendance and by 9:00pm it was standing room only.

I liked the choice of tunes, a dozen in total with plenty of great standards by the likes of Jerome Kern, Johnny Mandel, Duke Ellington and Carlos Jobim etc.  I think if I had to select a high-spot it would be hard to do so but one number that caught my attention was Recorda Bossa Nova which I’ve always liked ever since I bought a Blue Note CD called Dippin’ which featured Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan two of my favourite players.


It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen Suzanne working alongside another frontline player so I hope she will have Jim Collins when she next plays at this venue  It’s been a good month here at the Railway for saxophone players although there is no jazz tomorrow. The next jazz night will be Sunday with another saxman making his first appearance here, Mathew Darwin and his quartet. 9:00pm-11:00pm. Mike Farmer


Almost Like Being in Love; Don’t Get Around Much Any More; Angel Eyes; Trieste; Emily; Recorda Bossa Nova; C Jam Blues; All the Things You Are; Poor Butterfly; Someday my Prince Will Come; Body and Soul; Bésame Mucho.

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