Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

Monday, April 28, 2025

Neil Yates with the Bim Williams Trio @ the Moor Club, Stockport - April 27

© Jeff Pritchard
Neil Yates (trumpet, tenor sax, vocals); Bim Williams (guitar); Andrew Patterson (bass); Josh Savage (drums).

I kept hearing from various sources why I should not travel on Sunday (something about a Manchester Marathon causing delays) but when Stockport born brassman  Neil Yates makes a rare visit to his home-town there was no way I was going to miss that. There were many jazz fans who obviously had the same idea as by the time the 8:oopm start time rolled along, the music room was full and there was  an overspill of patrons into the adjoining area by the bar.  

Sharing the bandstand was Bim Williams, a guitarist that I would describe as brilliant. I think this Sunday was his first appearance at the Moor Club but it would be nice if he made a speedy return visit.      
Neil's first tune out of eight (four per set) was a Charlie Parker composition Au Privave which was followed by My One and Only Love and featured some sensitive brushwork by drummer Savage - a new name to me but one to watch out for. Next we heard Neil on tenor sax with Gentle Rain a bossa nova by Luiz Bonfá. He was using a rare Montreux tenor sax and he got into a Getz or Zoot Sims vibe which made for a nice contrast to his boppish trumpet work. 

The bass player, I found out later, is called Andrew Patterson and is another young musician to watch out for. On the final number, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, drummer Josh Savage got an extended solo which featured some explosive stickwork that went down well. 

Neil is a big Chet Baker fan and he sang on Just Friends. Neil now lives in Conway, North Wales, and I recall some great times I had at three of the North Wales Jazz Festivals that Neil was involved in and I hope to see him at the Moor Club again before too long.

Next Sunday (May 4) reedsman Gair Carson will appear with Paul Hartley's Quartet. 

Au Privave; My One and Only Love; Gentle Rain; Just Friends;  Days of Wine and Roses; Loverman; It Could Happen to You; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise.
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1 comment :

Russell said...

I agree, Tim 'Bim' Williams is a brilliant guitarist.

Monday, April 28, 2025 9:03:00 pm

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