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: 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).

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Gary Crosby Quintet @ Loughton Baptist Church - Oct. 25

Kurt Mayling (trumpet); David Kayode (tenor sax, flute); Alex Ho (keyboards); Gary Crosby (double bass); Miranda Radford (drums) + Orphy Robinson (introductions)

The National Jazz Archive, based in Loughton, Essex, is an invaluable resource. In addition to its ongoing archiving activities, the NJA presents concerts on a regular basis. Away from its Loughton Library base, Loughton Baptist Church serves as its performance venue. This Saturday afternoon's concert featured the Gary Crosby Quintet. 

Now seventy years old, it doesn't seem like five minutes since bassist Crosby was blazing a trail with the Jazz Warriors. Here in Loughton, billed as How to Train Your Cat, More Mingus Moves,  Crosby's bandmates were of a younger generation. For a musician of such status, Crosby didn't seek to hog the limelight, far from it, happily shining the spotlight on his young charges.

Amazingly, Kurt Mayling (trumpet), David Kayode (tenor sax, flute), Alex Ho* (keyboards) and drummer Miranda Radford (a second year Trinity student) seemed to know each and every Mingus number Crosby called. What's more, across the course of two sets, there wasn't so much as a single page of sheet music or an iPad to be seen anywhere, on stage or off. 

The NJA's audience knew its stuff, applauding long and loud, mightily impressed not only with Crosby, but with the remarkable array of young talent on show. As the afternoon drew to a close Gary Crosby looked at his bandmates, suggesting 'A Train'. A collective nod of heads. They played it and how! A fabulous afternoon.       
* A year or two ago Alex Ho made a big impression at the now closed Prohibition Bar, Newcastle, in a duo performance with guitarist Tom Remon. Russell    

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