Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, November 24, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: Greg Abate w. the Dean Stockdale Trio - Nov. 23

© John Lyons
Greg Abate (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Ken Marley (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

A taxi dash from Pilgrim St. to Railway St. got me to the Globe in time to catch the great American alto saxophonist Greg Abate. A JNE/Jazz Co-op c0-promotion, this gig too was well-attended and deservedly so.

© John Lyons
Abate has made many appearances in the north east dating back to the early days of BSH when the Corner House was still the epicentre of Newcastle's jazz scene. Indeed Greg was probably one of the last American 'names' to play there.

Since then there have been few jazz venues he hasn't played at in the area, often with varying personnel and always with a positive response. This line-up is probably as good as any and they responded intuitively to the twists and turns he often indulged in.

© Ken Drew
A noted Parker specialist, he opened the first set dancing through the changes of Yardbird Suite with a facility that eludes all but the chosen few. He does it meaningfully, not just fingerbusting runs that he learned in the woodshed but phrases and passages picked up during a lifetime of gigging around the world.

© Ken Drew
Ceora, by Lee Morgan, was followed by Softly as in a Morning Sunrise which wasn't softly at all but had blistering solos all round with Abbie in particular working out impressively and one of many fine solos by Marley.

Kerry's Song, composed by Greg for his wife, was a pleasant bossa whilst Body and Soul was packed with emotion from all four. Beautiful!

On the Road, a fast original that brought the set to a close with a bang. Incidentally, a live version by Greg recorded at the Black Swan with the Paul Edis Trio  can be viewed on YouTube HERE (see comment).

© Ken Drew
After the raffle won by number 89 the second set got underway with On Green Dolphin St. followed by an original by Greg dedicated to his children then more 'Bird' with Billie's Bounce and Steeplechase which segued into Ornithology.

Angel Eyes was something else. Not just by Greg whose solo was drenched in emotion but also by Stockdale who had been, and still was, in top form from the off. YouTube LINK.

The show finished with Kenny Barron's Voyage which brought a most enjoyable evening to a close. Come back soon. Lance

at

1 comment :

Ken Drew said...

A fine evening with great musicians playing a good selection of well-known or self-penned tunes by Abate. Nice for Lance (reviewer-in-chief) to have remembered and referenced an earlier Abate visit (Nov 2019) when Jazz North East shared a couple of tunes - the other one was Angel Eyes (a fond favourite of mine) with Abate playing flute, and Paul Edis on keys. This was the first year in which I'd shot videos.... there has been some improvement since then - but the playing always stands its own ground - solid !! Angel Eyes Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5oX1R-Fpa8

Monday, November 24, 2025 7:51:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive