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

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

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.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Neil Yates Quartet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - Feb. 15

Neil Yates (trumpet, tenor sax; vocals); Andrzej Baranek (keyboards); Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Rick Weedon (drums).

Neil Yates was actually born in Stockport and now resides in North Wales where he  can be regularly heard at a small pub near Llandudno - the Penryn Arms on Monday nights. I intend to visit this venue at the earliest opportunity.  For tonight's gig Neil was backed by a superb trio including a drummer new to me, Rick Weedon, who did some tasty brushwork on the Louis Armstrong tune  Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?. I used to own an EP of Louis doing this number with Jack Teagarden which I liked a lot. 

A big surprise was Neil saying  he was singing in care homes. He mentioned  Sinatra and Dean Martin and in the first set we heard Neil tackle  All the Way in the Sinatra styleMy friend Jeff reminded me that Lee Morgan recorded the same tune.  I must also mention Neil played his Montreux tenor sax extensively and I was impressed with the great mellow sound he produced. As you can see from the set list he likes a good tune and I found it a very entertaining evening. Mike Farmer

You're My Everything; What Are You Doing the Rest Of Your Life?; All the Way; Recado Bossa Nova; The Gentle Rain; On the Street Where  You Live; Do You Know What it Means To Miss New Orleans?; What Is This Thing Called Love?

For more info follow Stockport Jazz on Facebook or Paul Hartley's Wednesday updates on this site.

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