Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18413 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 277 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 7 ) 11,

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

April

Tue 14: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 14: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 16: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jewish Musicians/Composers/Vocalists.
Thu 16: Sleep Suppressor + Silk Road + So Anne So @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00., £8.00., £6.00.
Thu 16: Fourpenny Rabbits @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £12.96 (inc. bf) online; £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.

Sat 18: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 11:00am-4:00pm. A Food Festival event.
Sat 18: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Swing dance sessions + Bright Street Big Band 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm.
Sat 18: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm. £27.00 (inc. bf).

Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Lara Hopper.
Sun 19: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Straight to Tape @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Edd Carr, Jonathan Proud, John Hirst. Blues trio.
Sun 19: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Monday, April 13, 2026

Richard Wetherall Quartet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - April 12

© Jeff Pritchard
Richard Wetherall  (keyboards, vocals); Rick Halliwell (alto/soprano sax); Tim Williams (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums)

As expected there was a good turnout for this show and for a change I decided to take a seat in the middle of the room instead of at the front.
This proved a good move as for a four-piece unit they generated quite a powerful sound.  

Wetherall can do no wrong in my opinion but tonight he had some surprises in store such as singing on a couple of standards and doing a great job of announcing the tunes etc. in a very amusing manner.  

Front line partner Rick Halliwell was making his debut at the Moor Club although I saw him recently playing baritone sax in Frank Grifiths's fine nonet at Graham Brook's monthly venue at the Morley Green Club, Mobberley Road, Wilmslow. Tonight he featured mainly alto sax on which he has an enviable technique. I remember him also being in the line-up on an LP I won in a raffle a long time ago which I may still have by Wigan Youth Band with Bobby Shew .      

A musician that grabbed everyone's attention tonight was Tim Williams on double bass who many jazz fans also know as being a top class guitarist. There are so many great bass players around these days it is very encouraging.

Good to see Eryl Roberts taking care of business as the tunes were not all familiar ones as you will see from the  interesting set list.

Just Friends; On the Trail; Just You, Just Me (vcl); Evidence; In a Sentimental Mood; Bossa by Sergio Mendes; Whitherto; Penpals; Pure Imagination;  Watermelon Man; I Lost My Step in Nantucket; Honeysuckle Rose (vcl)

I may have missed a tune so my apologies if I did.  Next week the Mike Hall Quartet will be at the Moor Club. Mike Farmer
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