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.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Hot Club of Soho @ The Spice of Life, Cambridge Circus - August 25

© Patti
Mike Piggott (violin, vocals); Jeff Green (guitar); Nils Solberg (guitar, vocals); Peter Morgan (bass, vocals)

In the absence of string bass player Richard Pite - and organiser of the Spice of Life's weekly Monday lunchtime sessions - the Hot Club of Soho drafted in long time friend, bassist Peter Morgan. 

This afternoon's concert performance opened to a two thirds full house. For whatever reason, several latecomers arrived towards the interval, making it a full house.

The stragglers missed several standards, including 'S Wonderful, Swing 39 and Out of Nowhere. Across the course of two sets, Mike Piggott did the talking, taking two or three vocals into the bargain, but our violinist would by no means dominate the show. How could he when, to his left, sat two fine Djangologists, Messrs Jeff Green and Nils Solberg? Add Peter Morgan to the mix and we had a cookin' rhythm section.

© Patti
Green and Solberg swapped solos seamlessly, the revelation being bassist Morgan. Immaculate time, inventive, it was obvious this guy has been around the Hot Club block! Coquette and Stuff Smith closed an entertaining first set.

Second set: Cheek to Cheek, Saul Chaplin's Please be Kind (a feature for Jeff Green, who, back in the day, worked with Stéphane Grappelli), a Nils Solberg-Peter Morgan duo spot on I'm Beginning to See the Light. We were rapidly heading to the half past two finish. Piggott said they had to play Nuages, and they did. Flat Foot Floogie came as a surprise inclusion and that was about it. Another winning Monday lunchtime session at Cambridge Circus. Russell
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