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.

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.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - June 16

© Russell
Andrzej Baranek (piano); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums) + Joe Steels (guitar)

As rained threatened in Hexham, drummer Gaz Hughes crossed the Pennines to player another gig on his trio's mammoth, 'old school' tour. Queen's Hall's monthly Sunday afternoon jazz concert series is going from strength to strength and the booking of Gaz, pianist Andrzej Baranek and bassist Gavin Barras served to illustrate the point.

Beboptical Illusion, the title track of Gaz Hughes' 2023 album, opened the first of two sets. Right from the off it was apparent the Gaz Hughes Trio is a well-oiled unit and little wonder given this Queen's Hall gig came some three quarters of the way through a tour itinerary boasting some fifty dates. A rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule honing the trio's set, at times their razor-sharp responses to the music and the multifarious directions it took appeared to be telepathic.

Hughes, the boss, cajoled and nudged, laid back but very much in charge, not unlike the great Art Blakey. Pianist Andrzej Baranek provided the fireworks with some of the best bop/post bop piano playing heard in many a year. Bassist Gavin Barras swung it like nobody's business, great sound, cast iron technique. Nat Cole and George Shearing were given effective treatments, Monk worked brilliantly (I Mean You and Blue Monk), Put on a Happy Face perhaps taking the gold medal, stupendous playing all round.

Baranek's AB's Blues and Hughes' White Noise from the trio's new album Nuclear Bebopalypse stood comparison with anything which had gone before and Barras' Disinformation was a winner. To close a grand Sunday afternoon here in the Tyne Valley, concert organiser, guitarist Joe Steels joined Gaz and the boys to take it out on two contrasting numbers - Body and Soul and Blue Monk. The Gaz Hughes Trio deservedly received a great reception here at Queen's Hall. The trio's second gig of the day down the road in Newcastle at the Globe will, likely as not, be every bit as successful. Russell         
      
Set list: Beboptical Illusion; AB's Blues; Beautiful Moons Ago; Lullaby of Birdland; Alice in Wonderland; I Mean You; Disinformation; Shootin' from the Hip!; Put on a Happy Face; White Noise; Body and Soul; Blue Monk. 
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