Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18429 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 13 ) 27,

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

April

Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 17: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £12.96 (inc. bf) online; £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.

Sat 18: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Swing dance sessions + Bright Street Big Band 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm.
Sat 18: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm. £27.00 (inc. bf).

Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Lara Hopper.
Sun 19: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Straight to Tape @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Edd Carr, Jonathan Proud, John Hirst. Blues trio.
Sun 19: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Tue 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval NE25 0AT. Tel: 0191 237 3697. Tickets: £14.00. ‘Pie & Pea Lunch’.
Tue 21: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. £29.00., £26.00., £23.00.
Tue 21: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Jack Littlewood (drums).

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Nubiyan Twist @ Digital, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £28.75 (inc. bf).
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Daniel John Martin w. Swing Manouche @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 7:30pm. Date, time & admission TBC.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 23: FILM: Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 6:15pm. Dir. Robert Clem (2025).
Thu 23: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 23: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 23: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra & Musicians Unlimited @ ARC, Stockton. 8:00pm. £19.00. inc. bf.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Album review: Gary Bartz & NTU: Eternal Tenure of Sound - Damage Control (OYO Records)

Gary Bartz (alto sax, vocals); Barney McAll (piano, keys, vocals); Om'Mas Keith (drums)+ Theo Croker (trumpet 1, 3, 9); Terrace Martin (alto sax 3); Kamasi Washington (tenor sax 3); Miles Kahlil (tenor sax 1, 3);  Corey Henry (organ 3); Nile Rodgers (guitar 3); Spaceman (guitar 2, 4, 8); Juewett Bostick (guitar 2, 4); Elias McAll (guitar 1); Tarron Crayton (bass 1, 2, 5-10); Sam Anning (bass); Dominique Sanders (bass 3, 4); Brandee Younger (harp 1, 2, 4, 6); Kassa Overall (drums 1, 3, 4, 6, 10);  Rita Sach (background/lead vocals 1, 6-10); Daniel Merriweather (background/lead vocals 5, 6-10); Shelly FKA DRAM (vocals 7).

Gary Bartz's first studio recording in twelve years sees the 83 year old alto icon transforming soul classics by Curtis Mayfield, Anita Baker, Patti LaBelle and DeBarge into meditative jazz infused tapestries that transcend genre boundaries. At least that's what the blurb says and they're probably right.

The alto player, I'm told, invested $400k in the recording which, looking at the quantity and quality of the musicians, is probably about right. Was the money invested wisely?

Bartz is undoubtedly a front runner on his instrument. His playing beautifully lyrical, his technique as fluent as any ten lesser mortals combined. Plus a supporting cast of big hitters - instrumentally and vocally - is a recipe for perfection. However, perfection isn't always perfect. You may love Coffee Creams but try eating a whole box of them in one go and you'll probably never eat another one again.

Damage Control is a bit like that. It's the first volume in Bartz's trilogy the Eternal Tenure of Sound and, much as I love it, I wont be immediately pressing the repeat button although I will be dipping into it whenever I feel the need to relax and to acknowledge it for the masterpiece that it is. Lance 

Release date: Sept. 26.

Fantasy; One Hundred Ways; In Search of my Heart/Love Surrounds us Everywhere; The Makings of You; You Bring me Joy; You Are my Starship; Slow Jam; If Only You Knew; Biggest Part of me; Love me in a Special Way

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