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

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 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: 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 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

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).

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Vieux Carré Jazzmen + guests @ the Millstone, South Gosforth - July 16

© Russell

Brian Bennett (banjo); Jim McBriarty (tenor sax, clarinet, vocals); David Gray (trombone, trumpet, vocals); Colin Aitchison (trumpet, trombone, vocals); Chris Perrin (keys) + Neville Sarony (vocals, keys); Ben Helm (guitar); Jenna Stewart (vocals)

A 6 oz medium cooked rump steak, with chips, onion rings, peas and peppercorn sauce went down well. The steak, exactly as I like it, was succulent and hadn't long stopped sizzling. The chips were neither skinny nor chunky but comfortably in between and easily digestible whilst the onion rings had a piquancy about them that hit the spot. I found the peas not as warm as I like them but that could have been because I left them till last causing them to cool off, However, overall, I can only say "Mes félicitations au chef".

© Russell
Félicitations too to the augmented Vieux Carré who, aided and assisted by their guests, blew away those World Cup blues.

Vocals abounded: Colin Aitchison sang Sweet Lorraine and Sunday: Jim McBriarty gave out with Avalon and Honky Tonk Town: David Gray crooned I'll be Seeing You and Exactly Like You whilst the up and coming Jenna Stewart (make a note of that name) made an impression with Love me or Leave me.


© Russell
However, the star of the show - and few would dispute it - was Neville Sarony. Like Colin he's on vacation from Hong Kong and, in the first set, we enjoyed: Five Foot Two (Eyes of Blue) and Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? For his second shot he took over from Chris Perrin at the keyboard and our fancy was tickled with a hilarious Alcoholic Blues as well as Bésame Mucho sung in Spanish.

© Russell
Apart from the vocals both Colin and David played trumpet and trombone, Ben Helm played nice rhythm guitar, Jimmy McB offered contrast to the brass boys with some cool tenor and agile clarinet. Chris Perrin came down from up in them there hills to slot in nicely whilst Brian Bennett - the Baron of the Banjo - chugged away in true New Orleans fashion. Check the Millstone out - the food is great and the music's not bad either! Lance

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive