Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

The Buck Clayton Jam Sessions

Back in the early days of the vinyl age the floodgates were opened for jazz musicians and symphony orchestras. The latter could play Beethoven's Ninth without the listener having to flip the disc over several times. Likewise jazz musicians no longer had to formulate their solos to fit into the constraints of a 10" piece of shellac. Instead they could stretch out indefinitely or until Miles suggested the player takes the mouthpiece out of his mouth.

The LP was the ideal format for recording jam sessions and none were carved in vinyl better than those led by Buck Clayton in 1953 and 1954.

True the opening shots had been fired by Norman Granz and his various JATP aggregations. They were live recordings that invariably had the rebel-rousing soloists playing to the gallery with honking tenors, screaming trumpets and drum battles that saw Rich wiping the floor with Krupa. Even Nat Cole wasn't immune from this musical bloodletting.

The crowd loved it and I'm sure I would too if I'd got caught up in the frenzy. However, in the cold light of morning listening to the records it's not the same. A bit like the girl you thought was the most beautiful girl in the world the previous night turns out to be anything but and you vow never to mix your drinks again!

The Clayton sessions are like vintage plonk - they just get better and better with each play. Most of them are available now on YouTube (isn't every.......thing?) but I wouldn't part with the albums pictured. Strictly speaking the Buck Clayton Special wasn't one of the jam sessions but it fills in the space and it's a good one anyway.

All the big hitters of the pre-bop era are in there many, like Clayton, Basie-ites past and present (1950s).

If I gave myself the impossible task of choosing just one track it would be Blue Lou for the chase chorus between Clayton and Ruby Braff. I was reminded of how good all ten minutes of the track were when Denny Farrell played it on Late Night Chicago Radio this Thursday gone.

They don't play 'em like that anymore. Lance

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