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.

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.

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.

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham - March 28

© Malcolm Sinclair
Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The Gala's monthly Friday lunchtime jazz concerts continue to attract capacity audiences and this afternoon's concert wasn't about to buck the trend. The Giles Strong Quartet is one of the region's banker bets. Four experienced musicians, restraint and sensitivity at the heart of their musicianship, the audience hanging on every note, for want of a better term, this was 'chamber jazz' at its finest. 

Billy's Blues, composed by bandleader Giles Strong, set the tone. These guys don't do 'flash', far from it, Strong's measured and informative introductions engaging the audience from the off. Coco in Paris (something to do with a cat) purred, John Lewis' Django paid homage to Django, Lewis and the MJQ and Two Add Two was an elegant contrafact of a classic number. If your maths is up to speed you'll know the tune. 

© Malcolm Sinclair
Alone Together featured Strong and trumpeter Pete Tanton dancing deftly around one another's flowing lines, bassist Ian Paterson and drummer John Bradford the epitome of taste. To close the one hour set, guitarist Strong attempted the Swedish pronunciation of the title of Per Texas Johansson's Miljarder Stjärnor. It would take a Swedish speaker to comment on Strong's effort, what wasn't in doubt was the music. It had been an excellent hour of first rate jazz.

Next month (Friday 25 April) Jazz at the Gala presents the Andrea Vicari Trio. Book now at: www.galadurham.co.uk. Russell               

Set list: Billy's Blues*; Days of Wine and Roses; Sakura; Coco in Paris*; Django; Two Add Two*; Alone Together; June Joy*; Miljarder Stjärnor.

* Composed by G. Strong.      
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