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.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Album review: The Jack Ruby 5 - Despedida La Bodega (Strength in Numbers Records)

Ian Macmillan (guitars, Balinese banjo, toy harp, melodica, perc.); Sandy Cormie (keys); Willie Brown (bass); Bob Anderson (drums); Meredith Crone (congas, bongos) + Ivan Marples (saxes); John Milne (trombone); Clare Thomas (cornet, flugel); Jim McCann (tenor sax)

 Ah! vinyl - I love holding an attractively designed sleeve knowing that, inside, it holds (hopefully) untold riches. But first let's read the sleeve notes and uncover the story behind the tracks and the name of the band as there is no one of that name listed and the only Jack Ruby I know of is the man who shot the man who shot the President in Dallas, Texas way back in the day.

What we do learn is that all tracks were written by Ian Macmillan except track 4 which is a joint effort between Brown and Marples and track 9 which is written by Brown without Marples.

Still it's the music that counts and on that score it rates highly. It's not going to push any boundaries or kill any presidential assassins, it's music that swings nicely over a Latin rhythm. Although the band are based in Glasgow it could be the soundtrack to a film set in the less affluent parts of any city in the world. A place where love and romance triumph over grime and crime

The soloists are tasteful and inventive without indulging in any histrionics. Macmillan, apart from his cool and laid back solos, indulges himself on various 'miscellaneous instruments' as listed above. Marples is particularly effective on baritone sax and there is good work by McCann on tenor. Milne and Thomas are also heard to advantage. 

Turn it up loud, the neighbours won't complain! Lance

Kelvingrove Street; All at Sea; Summer Fields; Count Da Funk; Everybody Loves Buddie; It's Happening Again; Ruby; The Girl With the Pineapple Hair; Rainy Night in Shettleston; Despedida La Bodega

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Thanks Lance, that's cool.

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