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 09, 2026

Single Review: A Little Sailboat – Jay Patten and Crystal Gayle

Jay Patten (vocals, saxophone); Crystal Gayle (vocals)

Nashville-based vocalists, Jay Patten and Crystal Gayle deliver a picturesque offering of what might be categorized as “Trop-jazz” with the light and lovely, A Little Sailboat. A brief acoustic guitar and rhythm launch things before Gayle and Patten dive in. The groove here is indeed equatorial and is indescribable in the nicest way. It’s not a Getz bossa nova and it’s not crab shack Jimmy Buffett. As they paint their vivid picture, the duo simply glide over both melody and lyric with ease. It’s an involving listen.

Patten has been Musical Director for the pop legend for decades, touring and recording with her. He has released over a dozen albums and singles, all of which were well-received. Gayle, a Nashville paramount and still a lovely voice in multiple genres from country to gospel to jazz, had her biggest hit with the Grammy-winning pop tune, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue back in 1977. The offering here is a quintessential boy-girl duet that fits the laid-back vibe to a proverbial “t.” Their voices have a lovely contrast, by the way. Patten delivers an effervescent sax solo and the singers take the tune out over the faux steel drum-accented rhythm bed. The production values are A-1, as well.

A Little Sailboat is deliciously infectious and will likely ear-worm listeners. Now where’s my pina colada? Nick Mondello 

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