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).

Saturday, July 05, 2025

Laurence Harrison & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - July 4

Laurence Harrison (guitar); Tom Remon (guitar)

Laurence Harrison and Tom Remon have made many friends at Prohibition Bar. As the Pink Lane venue is to close its doors permanently at the end of the month our guitar wizards took the opportunity to play a duo gig together one last time at the place where it all began.

An attentive front row audience cocked an ear to every nuanced note, at the back of the room the less attentive were oblivious to what was going down. Strange world, eh? Laurence and Tom have their own individual approach to jazz guitar, at once different and complimentary. A set list accessed from a mobile phone or perhaps off the top of their heads, our virtuosi opened with Johnny Green's Out of Nowhere. Theme stated, extended improvisations from both men, scarcely a nod or a glance, it was as if an element of telepathy was in play. 

Giant Steps to Darn That Dream, two very different tunes, the musicianship of the very highest level - how do these guys do it?! Stella by Starlight (one of the great GASbook numbers) to a very different number, Trane's Mr PC (a number not unknown to the Black Swan jam session just around the corner), one suspects Laurence and Tom* are paid up members of the mutual (jazz guitar) admiration society. To conclude a marvellous evening here at Prohibition Bar, indeed to bring down the curtain on their tenure here on Pink Lane, our wonderful guitar duo said farewell to Mitch and co with a sparkling take on Maiden Voyage.             

Tom Remon returns to Newcastle in November to play another jazz guitar duo concert in  the company of Tony Ormesher. Their Lit & Phil concert on Friday 21 November (1:00pm) is all but sold out. Logon to www.litandphil.org.uk to grab one of the last few seats. Russell
   
Set list: Out of Nowhere?On Green Dolphin StreetGiant StepsDarn That DreamStella by StarlightMr PCMaiden Voyage

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