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

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.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Paul Edis Trio @ The Gala, Durham - May 22

© Malcolm Sinclair
Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Steve Hanley (drums)

Another full house. What's new? The Gala's lunchtime concert series is on a roll with sold out performances now considered the norm. This afternoon's concert would continue the trend. Although now based in London, Paul Edis continues to programme the concerts, and today, for a change, pianist Edis himself would take centre stage.

© Malcolm Sinclair
Attracting a capacity audience of one hundred on a Friday lunchtime is no mean feat, not least on an 'other-things-to-do' summer's day. Of course we were there to listen to Edis, bassist Andy Champion, making the short trip from Tyneside, and, up from Leeds, drummer Steve Hanley. In a programme of eight compositions, all but one written by Edis, our trio would give an individual and collective masterclass in the art of jazz improvisation. 

© Malcolm Sinclair
Whiskers, a favourite number of your reviewer, seamlessly switching from bebop mode to swing-time sections, yet again hit the bullseye. Bill Evans is an acknowledged influence on Edis and the American's Very Early took its rightful place in the set list. Friday Again (a product of Edis' disciplined writing regime), Spring Sunlight (hastily retitled from February Sunlight), whatever the chart in front of them, Messrs Champion and Hanley were more than up to the mark. 

Our trio of master musicians took it in turn to bask in the soloist's spotlight: invention, sensitivity, respectful of the composer's musical
vision. It Is What It Is (remembering the late Brian Ebbatson), Magnetic (magnets and their mysterious/baffling properties inspiring the title) and, an apposite closing number, The End. The audience wanted another one. Paul Edis obliged, the trio going out on All the Things You Are. 
© Malcolm Sinclair

Next month's concert (Friday 26 June) features the Finn-Keeble Group. Already more than 50% of the seats have been snapped up. Don't miss out, book now at: www.galadurham.co.uk. Russell     
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