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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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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