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.

Monday, November 04, 2024

Greg Abate @ the Victory Club, Cheltenham - Nov. 1

Greg Abate (alto sax/flute); Dave Newton (piano); Alec Dankworth (bass); Sebastian de Krom (drums)

After a month of little or no live jazz activity that interested me, I realised that Greg Abate was due to arrive in the UK on October 30 to begin his second tour of England and Wales this year starting at Swansea and ending at Newcastle on November 24. 


I counted 19 gigs in his tour itinerary and I decided to attend the Cheltenham one,  remembering that my only other visit to Cheltenham was to see Johnny Griffin and Jackie Mclean at a large theatre. That was way back in the day. I had a car then and the journey was so much easier. These days I use trains a lot and I was very lucky that, on this occasion by way of a change, I had minimal problems although, for many, the delays and cancellations continue.

The gig was well attended and the room was ideal for a jazz concert with plenty of seating and a well stocked bar at the back. There were plenty of CDs and jazz related items on offer including a table devoted solely to albums by Greg. 


As you can see from the above line-up Greg works with some of the best musicians available and they have to be to match his energy and creativity.  Greg likes to get the sound spot on and he spent a few minutes on a soundcheck before deciding to play the alto with the mic at a low level. 


The opening tune was Solar by Miles Davis and was followed by a number I’ve not heard Greg do before Cole Porter's Love For Sale  which contained a piano solo by Dave Newton that made me think of the great Kenny Drew who I heard play the same tune with Dexter Gordon at the Montmartre Club in Copenhagen.


I last saw Dave at one of the jazz house parties held at Malcolm Frazer's place in Cheadle. 


This was a concert that I thought could not be bettered.  I must thank the promoter Andrew Turrall for a great show, Dave Newton for giving me a lift back to my hotel and Greg Abate for all his assistance. I hope to see Greg again on  Nov. 17 when he is in Belper, Derbyshire. Mike Farmer


Solar; Love For Sale; Ceora; Contemplation; Easy Living; Segment; J.A.G; Ornithology; 'Round Midnight; Afternoon in Paris; On The Road; Well You Needn’t.

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