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.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Neil Yates Quintet: Celebrating 100 years of Miles Davis @ Llandudno Jazz Club - June 1

Neil Yates (trumpet);  Mark Hanslip (tenor sax); Misha Gray (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Luke Flowers (drums)

This concert celebrated the music and life of the late American trumpeter, bandleader and composer Miles Davis  who was born on the 26 May 1926.

All musicians were well known to me save for Mark Hanslip who I was seeing play live for the first time. A terrific tenor saxophone player who, this evening, was playing a King tenor saxophone. A very knowledgeable audience were treated to some of the best Miles Davis tunes played by five very accomplished musicians. The repertoire of Miles Davis  is very much enjoyed by those at Llandudno Jazz Club who have the privilege of hearing top UK trumpet player Neil Yates playing every Monday evening and he curates these weekly jazz sessions.

The concert started with Move from Miles’ album The Birth of the Cool followed by a great version of All Blues from the best selling album Kind of Blue with Neil delivering a magical trumpet solo. This was followed by If I Were a Bell composed by Frank Lesser.

Over the past few years I have seen the outstanding pianist Misha Gray play many times with different bands and also as a bandleader with his band Misha Gray’s Intergalactic Jazz Quartet which Neil sometimes plays with. Misha is also a renowned composer. Luke Flowers needs no introduction having been a long standing member of the Cinematic Orchestra since 2000. Almost every week I seem to come across Josh Cavanagh-Brierley at one music venue or the other across various genres. He is a composer and teacher too and leads his own band who I had the privilege of seeing in Liverpool recently playing tracks from a new album to be released in August. I am very fortunate to be able to access such fabulous musicians in North Wales and the north west of England.

On Walkin’ Misha was incredible on the piano and there was great brass interplay between Mark and Neil. I really enjoyed In Your Own Sweet Way written by Dave Brubeck but crystallised by Miles. Mark played tribute on tenor sax to Miles on Aeregin. The encore to end the concert was a jazz waltz Footprints composed by Wayne Shorter.

Live Jazz takes place each Monday  from 8pm at this venue which is a dog friendly and award winning pub  the Penrhyn Arms where the food is as good as the modern and traditional jazz each week. Richard Morris

Set list: Move; All Blues; If I Were a Bell; My Ship; Four; Walkin'; In Your Own Sweet Way; Aeregin; Seven Steps to Heaven; Footprints

Llandudno Jazz Club, Penrhyn Arms, Pendre Road, Penrhynside,  Llandudno LL30 3BY

Mondays @ 8pm. £15 cash entry pp, no booking required but recommended if dining.

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