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.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Album review: Hilary Gardner - On the Trail with the Lonesome Pines (self-released)

Hilary Gardner (vocals); Justin Poindexter (guitar, mandolin, organ, background vocals); Noah Garabedian (bass); Aaron Thurston (drums, perc.); Sasha Papernik (accordion on tks 4, 5).

I initially dismissed this as 'not my shot of Red Eye'. I mean jazz and country? Buddy Rich and I share allergies on this one. However, yesterday Jim Self's America 3 arrived. The two albums are mining the same lode and I began to wonder if jazz meets country (jazzco? cojazz?) was yet another genre to add to the ever growing list of tributaries feeding the mainstream of the music.

It turns out to be quite pleasant with the material going back to the thirties and forties.

It also helps that Hilary Gardner is basically an American jazz singer that enables her to slot easily into both genres.

On Saturday (June 28) Hilary plays a one off gig at Crazy Coqs in the heart of London where I'm sure most of these songs will be performed live. DETAILS.

Well worth hitting the Soho Trail for. Lance

BANDCAMP.

Along the Navajo Trail; Cow Cow Boogie; Call of the Canyon; Under Fiesta Stars; Silver on the Sage; Jingle Jangle Jingle (I've Got Spurs); A Cowboy Serenade (While I'm Smokin' my Last Cigarette; Song of the Sierras; Along the Santa Fe Trail; Lights of Old Santa Fe; I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande); Twilight on the Trail.

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