Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Album review: Sonny Rollins - Freedom Weaver, the 1959 European Tour Recordings (Resonance Records)

Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Henry Grimes (bass); Pete La Roca, Joe Harris or Kenny Clarke (drums).

Those nice people at Resonance Records have done it again thanks to Zev Feldman, that intrepid seeker of wisdom and truth who is forever donning his fedora and trench coat before setting off down those mean streets in an eternal quest to find the unfindable.

This one takes us to the Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and France of 1959 where the Rollins Trio barnstormed its way across Europe like a peaceful blitzkreig.

The tenor player is at his most prodigious taking the standards, reinterpreting them, turning them upside down, inside out - every which way including loose - particularly loose. Even without the roadmap of a guitar or a piano to chart his journey Rollins knows where he's going and, if he takes the scenic route so much the better.

Eleven and twelve tracks on the first two CDs respectively contrast with three on the the third one which runs for just under an hour. Not only do the longer tracks allow Rollins to stretch out even further - the cows had long come home before he took a breather - it also allowed Grimes and Clarke to go for gold.

The sessions with Clarke were all recorded at Hot Club d'Aix, Aix-en-Provence whilst La Roca and Harris were on the earlier ones outside of France.

An album I've told every little star about just as Sonny does four times in four different countries and now I'm telling you! Lance.


CD1: St. Thomas; There Will Never be Another You; Stay as Sweet as You Are; I've Told Every Little Star; How High the Moon; Oleo; Paul's Pal; Sonny Rollins interview; It Don't Mean a Thing; Paul's Pal; Love Letters.

CD2: I Remember You; I've Told Every Little Star; It Could Happen to You; Oleo; Will You Still be Mine; I've Told Every Little Star; I Want to be Happy; A Weaver of Dreams; It Don't Mean a Thing; Cocktails For Two; I've Told Every Little Star; I Want to be Happy.

CD3: Woody 'n' You; But Not For me; Lady Bird.

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