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

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).

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.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Alan Barnes with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ 1719, Sunderland - June 21

© Ken Drew
Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn drums)

A glorious midsummer's evening. 1719, Sunderland's new multi-purpose arts venue ('1719' referencing the year the Georgian building opened as a church in the Hendon area of town now rebranded 'Old Sunderland') has been promoting jazz concerts on a regular basis. Wearside has never been known as a jazz hotspot and it's heartening to see the venue taking a leap of faith.

This evening's concert promotion presented the great Alan Barnes. Following a tremendous lunchtime gig up the road in Newcastle working with the Dean Stockdale Trio, Barnes made the short journey to Wearside in good time for a half past seven start. Barnes' lunchtime Lit & Phil gig focussed upon Wally Fawkes, whose centenary it was this very day (b. 21.6.1924), this evening's concert would be more wide ranging, encompassing Fawkes' Humph association, GASbook material, Jobim, scorching bop workouts and more.

© Ken Drew
Joy Spring, it's always joyous, and in the hands of Mr A. Barnes, this was 'something else', absolutely blistering alto sax playing. This is why we go to gigs! Whatever company Barnes works in (on this occasion the excellent Dean Stockdale Trio) he makes it look ever so casual, as if old friends were getting together to play a few tunes. Stardust, Jobim's A Felicidade, Johnny Mandel's Emily, varied material, all played with conviction by the evening's star guest and the 'locals', namely pianist Dean Stockdale, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn. 

Art Pepper's Miss Who? (a contrafact of Sweet Georgia Brown) hit the heights, Barnes pulling out into the fast lane, the trio right there with him all the way (a top class solo from A. Finn, using brushes all night long), Triste, with Barnes on clarinet, a tune D. Stockdale is fond of playing, Body and Soul, St Thomas, Alan Barnes and co deservedly won much applause. An encore won, bebop to the fore, it had been another canny night here at Old Sunderland's Old Black Cat Jazz Club. Russell                 
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