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.

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: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
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 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

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.

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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