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.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

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: 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 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

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.

Monday, November 11, 2024

Richard Wetherall Quartet @ the Moor Club, Heaton Moor, Stockport - Nov. 10

© Jeff Pritchard
Richard Wetherall (keys); Uli Elbracht (guitar); Ed Harrison (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

It’s unusual to find Richard playing the main role in a four-piece combo and doing all the announcements. He did them well. Also taking a major part in the proceedings was an old friend of mine who I had not seen for some time. 


I first met Uli Elbracht, originally from Cologne, at the Crown, an old jazz venue under the Stockport viaduct. This  was maybe 20 years ago.He impressed me then and impressed me tonight with his original composition entitled Anything You Like and I liked what he did with it and the Irving Berlin standard How Deep Is The Ocean?. This tune seems to be one that gets played a lot by Stockport musicians, in fact looking at my notes I see Ed Kainyek gave it a thorough workout only last week.


Richard is very good at choosing tunes and  looking at his selection this evening, six for each set, I would say there was something for everyone. The ballad You’ve Changed  is a particular favourite of mine and I always like to hear Moanin’ by the great Bobby Timmons. Richard did a wonderful version which concluded a satisfying first set.    


The second set also contained some interesting material including the Black Orpheus Theme, sometime known as Morning of the Carnival by Luis Bonfá followed by Tico Tico a tricky uptempo Latin number. I know Munch Manship sometimes likes to feature his piccolo on this tune and he did so to end one of his shows at the Railway just prior to closure. Ed Harrison and Eryl Roberts kept things as they should be and all I can think of saying is keep on doing what you’re doing.


© Jeff Pritchard
The indications seem to be that the Moor Club will go from strength to strength and  next week the mercurial  Rod Mason will be giving the audience a demonstration of his talents on the various saxophones that I will unfortunately miss as I will be elsewhere on that night which is  Nov. 17. I'm pleased to see so many faces from the Railway turning up at the new venue.  Mike Farmer (pictured left w. Dexter Gordon!)


I Love You; Accentuate The Positive; All Blues; Anything You Like; You’ve Changed; Moanin’ ; How Deep Is The Ocean?; Black Orpheus; Tico Tico; Ishafan; Noreen’s Nocturne; Sandu.

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