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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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.

Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

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.

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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