Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

August

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Three performances: Grey St. 11:30am; Northumberland St. 2:30pm; Great North Museum 4:45pm.
Sat 08: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ FIKA Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £20.00.; £40.00. to inc. glass of fizz & food options.

Sun 09: Sticky Lips @ NOVUM Festival, Newcastle. Free. Various city centre locations/times.
Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Retro rummaging in Hexham

It was one of those sunny spring days that I thought I'd never see the like of again so, just in case it was a one off event, I took a bus from Newcastle to Hexham enjoying the beautiful views, the rolling hills and meadows to the right and left bringing back many memories of days spent cycling on those very same roads.

I'd almost forgotten how delightful a market town Hexham is even though today wasn't an actual market day.

However, like any town or city, rural or urban, there's always a plethora of charity shops and vinyl-wise the ones in Hexham all delivered the goods and whence I did depart (after indulging my taste buds at a local eatery), my bag was heavy laden. Hexham is one hip town.

Nine, including a double album, all of which will be revealed over the next week or two starting with this one.

Shorty Rogers Courts the Count (HMV CLP 1041)

Shorty Rogers, Conrad Gozzo, Maynard Ferguson, Harry Edison, Clyde Reasinger (trumpets); Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Bob Enevoldsen (trombones); Jimmy Giuffre, Zoot Sims, Bob Cooper, Herb Geller, Bud Shank (saxes); John Graas (French horn); Paul Sarmento (tuba); Curtis Counce (bass); Marty Paich (piano); Shelly Manne (drums). 

On some tracks Pete Candoli replaces Reasinger, Bob Gordon replaces Sims and Bill Holman replaces Cooper. Candoli and Ferguson in the trumpet section - hold on to your roofs!

As the title implies it's the cream of the west coast class of '54 playing numbers associated with Count Basie and it's just about as good as it gets. Rogers takes all of the trumpet solos (well he is the leader!) Enevoldsen plays valve trombone and the sax solos are spread around and although I've never taken to Giuffre's clarinet playing he makes up for it on tenor.

Jump For Me; Topsy; It's Sand, Man; Basie Eyes; Doggin' Around; Down For Double; Over and Out; H & J; Taps Miller; Tickletoe; Swingin' the Blues; Walk, Don't Run.

All this for 50p! Lance

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