Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 17: Homer’s Lane + John Garner & John Pope @ St John’s Church, Riding Mill. 2:00-4:00pm. Free. Gabriele Heller’s audio play + Garner & Pope.
Sat 17: Martyn Roper @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 5:00pm. Free. Roper’s ‘One Man Blues Band’.
Sat 17: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 17: Alexia Gardner Trio @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). Gardner, Alan Law & Jude Murphy.

Sun 18: Louis Louis Louis @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 2:00pm (doors). £15.00. Swing, jump jive, rhythm & blues. Fundraiser for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Sun 18: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio + Rod Sinclair.
Sun 18: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm.
Sun 18: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 18: Herdman-Strong Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 19: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

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

Friday, January 16, 2026

JATLP Lunchtime Concert Series: The Giles Strong Quartet - Jan. 16

© Patti
Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet); Ian Paterson (bass); John Bradford (drums)

Another successful lunchtime session at the Literary and Philosophical Society - the Lit & Phil to you and I. These third Friday in the month concerts are always sold out well in advance so, as our genial host invariably suggests, book for the next one while you still can.

What makes these gigs extra special is the variety of jazz offered as well as the presence of a grand piano when needed and, a rarity at jazz gigs, a printed programme.

The piano wasn't needed for this afternoon's session by the guitar-led Giles Strong Quartet although the programme was useful with its mini biographies of the musicians as well as a set list which, within the allocated 60 minutes, was more or less adhered to.

As for the actual music it was well-played, sometimes exceptionally so, no pedal boards or distortion units to assault the ear drums, in other words the epitome of taste.

The material consisted of, in the main, original compositions by the leader. 

© Patti
However, the concert began with that strange pop song from way back, Nature Boy. It's a much improved song without the words and the solos by trumpet, guitar and bass lifted it to a higher level. Merlin's Merlot was inspired by a young ragtime pianist/bartender at the old Prohibition Bar who entertained the customers by serving up Scott Joplin rags in between pouring shots of liquor.

Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla composed Milonga for Three. Arranged by the leader, two music stands were required to accommodate the lead sheet. It was worth it. Giles explained at length how he came up with the title Tune 22 for the next piece. The explanation went over my head but, fortunately, the music didn't. A nice boppish theme and excellent solos particularly from Pete Tanton who was right on the money.

Pete sat the next one out and Giles played Lullaby for Lissa who beamed affectionately at her partner (Giles) and his beautiful melody. A traditional Japanese composition, Sakura, followed then Blues Clues. Again it had Tanton calling the children home with his big fat brassy sound. Bradford's brushwork was amazing. 

Mubo, which was mega fast, had Bradford on sticks for this one and his solo  brought the first big round of applause and deservedly so.

All too soon it was over. Miljarder Stjärnor by Swedish composer Per 'Texas' Johansson closed the show and the audience showed their appreciation with loud applause for four of the finest - the Giles Strong Quartet. Lance

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