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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Duke Ellington and Malcolm Mitchell


Amazing what turns up on that YouTube thing! Maurice Summerfield sent me this clip of Duke Ellington and Malcolm Mitchell playing Take the A Train on, of all places, a Hughie Green TV show. No, it wasn't Opportunity Knocks, I think opportunity had successfully knocked for them long ago.

This was from a 1959 show Atlantic Showboat filmed on board the liner Empress of Britain. Other stars taking part included Shirley Bassey, David Whitfield and George Formby - I wonder if Duke and George did some jamming?

As BSH is, like DownBeat, currently in a listing frame of mind, Maurice offered his top twenty jazz guitarists in approximately chronological order.

Top 20 British Jazz Guitarists  1938 -2024

Ivor Mairants (1908-1998) 
Albert Harris (1916-2005) 
Cedric West (1918-!997)
Ike Isaacs (1919-1996) 
Dave Goldberg (1922-1969)
Pete Chilver (1924-2008) 
Frank Evans (1930-2007)
Derek Bailey (1930-2005)
Diz Disley (1931-2010)
Judd Proctor (1933-2020) 
John McLaughlin (1942- )
Terry Smith (1943- ) 
Dave Cliff (1944- )
Jim Mullen (1945- )
Alan Holdsworth (1946-2017) 
John Etheridge (1948- )
Esmond Selwyn (1948- )
Martin Taylor (1956- )
Nigel Price (1969- ) 
Colin Oxley (?- )

 Lance

1 comment :

Mike Farmer said...

Amazing! And was that David Niven at the finish?

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