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.

Monday, February 17, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: Gerry Richardson Quartet - Feb. 16

© Malcolm Sinclair
Gerry Richardson (organ, vocals); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

McGriff, McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott and Mike Carr among others may no longer be with us but, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Gerry Richardson is still around and delivering the soulful, funky grooves and forearm smashes beloved by his forerunners. The B3, or in this case the Crumar Mojo, is in safe hands. Last night's sold out Globe certainly wouldn't argue.

Aided and abetted by his three henchmen, who were namechecked after every solo, the Railway St. venue was transformed into a bar in downtown Philly or Detroit.  Some called it rock and roll although jazz audiences, if they like a rock number, seek absolution from Lady Day and John Coltrane by calling it rhythm and blues.

© Malcolm Sinclair
Lady Day and John Coltrane was one of several vocals by Gerry and it always goes down well. It's rather like referring to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in church. Regarding his vocals, he had the proverbial frog in his throat but like the trouper/trooper that he is the bluesy lyrics rolled off his tongue maybe even adding a Tom Waits-like authenticity.

Linsley blew some fiery alto - at times Garry reminded me of Gerry's old sparring partner the late Nigel Stanger.

Sinclair threatened to ignite the Telecaster and sounded nothing like Keith Richard. Instead it was Clapton who provided the inspiration  or was it vice versa?

When it comes to drummers Paul Smith is up there and, pound for pound, a match for any of the local big hitters. He should make the trip north from Teesside more frequently although last night's closure of the Redheugh Bridge to traffic may have given him second thoughts!

Still, what's a minor detour compared to playing with a band like this? Look forward to catching them again in the not too distant future. Lance

Comin' Home Baby; Soul Shadows (v); My Mother's Eyes; Since I Fell For You (v); African Sunset; Money's Getting Cheaper (v); Midnight Special; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; That's Alright (v); Lady Day and John Coltrane (v); Just Squeeze me; I Put a Spell on You (v); I Think I'll Lay Waste To Myself Tonight (v); Sunny

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