Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Monday, July 21, 2025

Greg Abate @ the Moor Club, Stockport - July 20

© Jeff Pritchard
Greg Abate (alto sax/flute); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Phil Bennett (drums)

Having seen Greg playing many times  over the years during his tours of the UK I should know by now to   expect a night of brilliant bebop but even I was astounded at  how great this gig turned out to be.

He has many loyal fans in the North West and they were out in force to witness what could very well be the Moor Club's best Jazz Sunday night ever. There were at least two audience members who were actually two years older than myself but they looked younger.  The second number that Greg played in the first set was a request in honour of one of these 89 year olds, Benny Golson's Killer Joe.


There were so many highspots to follow I cannot think of enough words of praise to describe them all.One thing that did puzzle me was how Greg managed to  squeeze twelve tunes into a 2 hour playing spot  An amazing feat I thought! As you can see from the set list Charlie Parker was well represented. 

Next Sunday, July 27, Neil Yates and Bim Williams are at the Moor Club. Mike Farmer

Ornithology; Killer Joe; My Little Suede Shoes; When Sunny Gets Blue; Bebop; Bernie's Tune; On Green Dolphin Street; Contemplation;  Cherokee; KC Blues; Red Cross; That's All.

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3 comments :

Patti said...

Sounds like a real blast! Greg played two wonderful gigs here in the north east on Friday, with three of the region's jazz stars alongside - Dean Stockdale on piano, Mick Shoulder bass, and Abbie Finn on drums. Newcastle's Lit & Phil's famed monthly jazz session then Darlington's Opus Four Jazz Club in the evening!

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 7:10:00 pm
Mike Farmer said...

I made an error when I said Bim Williams will be with Neil Yates at the Moor Club on July 27 .Should be the BYRO quartet with Neil Yates. For more info follow Stockport Jazz on facebook


Thursday, July 24, 2025 11:18:00 pm
Lance said...

See Wednesday's post: Stockport Jazz -- News.

Friday, July 25, 2025 1:53:00 am

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