Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

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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