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

18982 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 846 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 8.) 25.

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.

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.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 4:45pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: A Night of Stevie Wonder @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 15: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 15: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 15: Leah Kirk: A Strange Affair @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Leah Kirk (vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 15: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. PJO w. guest Graham Hardy (trumpet).

Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Ancient Infinity Orchestra @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 16: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01. adv.; £15.00. on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick. 8:00pm. Free.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Luis Verde @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - July 19

© Trevor Finn
Luis Verde (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Earlier in the day up the road in Newcastle, alto saxophonist Luis Verde wowed a full house at the Lit and Phil. Here at the Traveller's Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, the upstairs room on West Auckland Road filled up nicely, the majority of those taking their seats would be hearing the Tyneside based Spaniard for the first time. Looking around the room, Señor Verde pronounced himself happy with his surroundings, not least the portraits of some of the jazz greats adorning the walls.

Luis Verde's Newcastle concert featured numbers written by Wayne Shorter. This Darlington engagement would adopt a similar theme. Opening with One by One, the 'jaw-dropping awe' witnessed at the Lit and Phil was evident here at Opus 4. Scarcely believable paint-stripping alto sax and superb contributions from the rhythm section ('rhythm section' does these guys a disservice!) comprising pianist Dean Stockdale, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn, made for a breathless start.

Across the course of two sets the quartet (the evening was much more than 'frontman plus rhythm section') played a blinder. Wayne Shorter plus one or two original compositions made for a fabulous evening. Laying down impossibly good solos, from time to time Verde would stand to one side (on this warm summer's evening standing by an open window), enabling the 'trio' to swing like nobody's business. Listening to Dean, Mick and Abbie as a trio was worth every penny of the admission money - and to think Luis was the main attraction!

Infant Eyes, Prince of Darkness (Wayne Shorter's composition from Miles Davis' Sorcerer album), Luis and co were on top form. Opus 4 Jazz Club's regulars liked what they were hearing. And as if it couldn't get any better, Luis invited tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble to join the party. Luis saying, almost as an aside: I like playing with him [Harry Keeble]. Luis and Harry tore into Yes or No. Wow! The horns going for it, the rhythm section cookin', this was Opus 4 Jazz Club (at heart a 'modern jazz club') at its very, very best! Russell          
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive