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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

A mid-summer's night Black Swan jam session - June 18

Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + David Gray (trombone, flugelhorn, vocals); Stuart Turner (guitar); Harry Keeble (tenor sax, piano); Abbie Finn (drums); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Theo Nolan (drums, vocals); Kate O'Neill (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Conor Emery (trombone); Bailey Rudd (drums); Debra Milne (vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Ian Drever (vocals); Oscar Nolan (vocals)

Midsummer, as the queue began to form in Newcastle Arts Centre's pleasant courtyard, at long last some early evening sunshine. Doors at seven, down the stairs, a front row sofa claimed, a bottle of Styrian Blonde (Great North Eastern Brewing Co.), we were all set for another Black Swan jam session.

The house trio - Stu Collingwood (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass), Tim Johnston (drums) - got things underway in somewhat unusual fashion...Stu taking a vocal on Don't Get Around Much Anymore. A summery Wave, then the first of the hopefuls...'Showtime', that's multi-brass instrumentalist David Gray, singing and playing flugelhorn on My Funny Valentine, accompanied by the excellent Stuart Turner, guitar. From here on in the merry-go-round never stopped, tenor sax star (and pianist!) Harry Keeble impressed yet again, likewise star drummer Abbie Finn on a marvellous, slow reading of I'm Old Fashioned

A Kate O'Neill-Stu Collingwood duo take on The Man I Love worked well (the figure of Edgar Bell lurking in the shadows). The Ruddicks were in the house, father Paul (alto sax) and son Shivan (trumpet). The Night Has a Thousand Eyes certainly upped the tempo! Debra Milne arrived, jumping aboard a rip-roaring Caravan accompanied by Conor Emery ('bone), John Rowland (tenor), Bailey Rudd (drums) and, in his element, MC Paul Grainger. Watermelon Man (Bailey's 'in-the-pocket' drumming), a brief two-song contribution from Sinatra wannabe Ian Drever, an excellent In A Mellow Tone featuring Conor E, John R and the laid back Esther Coombes (alto sax and clarinet), we were hurtling towards the finishing line. 

Oscar Nolan joined twin brother Theo to sing What a Difference a Day Makes - these guys really can sing! And then it was all aboard the A Train to Queen's, Brooklyn, into Manhattan and on to the end of the line, Westgate Road, Newcastle. Just another night at the Black Swan. Next one, Tuesday July 2, half past seven. Russell   

No comments :

Blog Archive