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

Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
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.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

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.

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!

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


Lance said...

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

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