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.

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.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Album review: Greg Abate - Road to Forever (Whaling City Sound)

Greg Abate (soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute); Tim Ray (piano, electric piano); John Lockwood (acoustic bass, electric bass); Mark Walker (drums, percussion)

One gets the impression Greg Abate is permanently on the road. 250+ dates a year takes the man from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, coast to coast USA, not to mention annual trips (July and November) to the UK. Perhaps the album title of this 2017 release - Road to Forever - is Abate's tacit acknowledgment of his globetrotting existence (in pursuit of music-making). Take the Crowell Train, a contrafact of Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise, is dedicated to California based, fellow musician Ken Crowell. And then there's Mr. Parker, without question referencing the pioneering bebop alto saxophonist, Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker, indeed it's a contrafact of Confirmation. 

Playing 'Bird' and more on the road must become a way of life and Greg Abate clearly embraces the lifestyle. On this Whaling City Sound recording, Abate is heard working alongside a top class rhythm section: pianist Tim Ray, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Mark Walker. There is variation across the album's ten tracks: the title track with its Latin feel, the ballad form Farewell Phil Woods, the jazz waltz The Dancing Panda, Bird-burners Buzzardology (dedicated to Abate's friend John Darling, from their time together at Berklee) and Mr. Parker. If alto sax is Abate's principal instrument, he's no slouch on soprano sax, tenor sax (Whaling City Sound) and flute (Red Fish Boulevard and Seasons, the former a contrafact of On Green Dolphin Street), quite the all-rounder. 

Road to Forever could easily be a new release. 2017 or 2025, the date of the recording is of little significance, the music is timeless. The album would make a worthy addition to your Greg Abate collection. If, for some inexplicable reason, you don't have a G. Abate album in your collection, clear a space on the shelf and make that first purchase!   

Road to Forever (Whaling City Sound, cat. no. WCS 090) is available from: www.gregabate.com.           

Road to Forever; City of 2-5s; The Dancing Panda; Take the Crowell Train; Farewell Phil Woods; Whaling City Sounds; Red Fish Boulevard; Seasons; Buzzardology; Mr. Parker.  
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