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

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.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough - June 8 (take 2)

Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Garry Hadfield (keys); Jeremy McMurray (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums) + Neil Brodie (trumpet).

This new Sunday afternoon venture had a most successful start with a good size and enthusiastic audience providing a warm welcome for the Ian Bosworth Quintet comprising, as it does, some of Teesside's best jazz musicians.

Starting with Ben Tucker's Comin' Home Baby, fine sax, trumpet, guitar and keyboard solos with  great rhythmic backing from bass and drums showing how well they all played together setting the pattern for the rest of the session.

A swinging Out Of Nowhere was followed by a lively Blue Bossa played as a fast samba that included excellent solos from Richie and guest trumpet player Neil. Then, changing the mood, a beautiful version of God Bless The Child featuring moving solos both from Richie's sax, Neil's trumpet and sympathetic backing from the rest of the band. The first set was brought to a close with the popular All The Things You Are, well played and included nice keyboard work from Garry and guitar from Ian.

Jeremy then took over the keyboard for the second set starting with a driving intro to the Stanley Turrentine number Sugar, a nice bass solo from Ron and fours led by Mark's fine drumming.

Have You Met Miss Jones? with a great piano intro from Jeremy was followed by the Miles Davis number Freddie Freeloader giving all the opportunity to play the blues - Neil finishing it off on muted trumpet.

Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man was a great number to close and it was played with much enthusiasm.

This new jazz session proved to be successful at Chapel, a CAMRA award winning pub in Middlesbrough, which was an excellent venue with good acoustics and friendly welcoming staff. Ron Hampton

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