Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

September.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Friday, August 21, 2026

Jazz @ the Lit & Phil: Andrzej Baranek Trio - August 21

© Patti
Andrzej Baranek (piano); Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Dave Walsh (drums)

Two days, two gigs, two trios. Last night a young band on a voyage of discovery. This lunchtime a trio of seasoned campaigners on the same journey but someway further along the line. Both did what they do do well so to make comparisions would be pointless.

Once again the Lit and Phil was sold out and justifiably so. Baranek doesn't make too many trips across the Pennines so that when he does it's a gig not to be missed.

The emphasis was on highlighting compositions by some of jazz's greatest piano masters with a particular leaning towards bebop and its offspring kicking off with Tadd Dameron's Our Delight which couldn't have been more appropriately named judging by the audience reaction - they liked it! Lullaby of Birdland is always a crowd pleaser and today was no exception. I particularly liked the fact that, rather than clone Shearing, Baranek was very much his own man.

A couple of Ellington tunes entwined: The Single Petal of a Rose and Sophisticated Lady. For the most part it was solo piano displaying the pianist's (both Duke and Andrzej) romantic side. Bass and drums entered to lift it to a higher, but not better, level.

© Patti
When it comes to bebop piano nobody did it better than Bud Powell. Baranek's take on Bouncing with Bud proved that he is a worthy constituent of the great man. A special mention at this point of the solos and support from Cavanagh-Brierley and Dave Walsh. Tasteful and always on the money. Kenny Barron's Voyage gave them space to dazzle.

Oscar Moore composed Beautiful Moons Ago for the yet to be crowned Nat Cole. Cole, himself a great pianist set down a high bar for Baranek but his musical Fosbury Flop cleared it by a quaver or two with the help of the bossa nova rhythm.

© Patti
Monk's Ruby, My Dear set another romantic mood and without too many of the High Priest's clunky chords. To finish, a belter! I've Never Been in Love Before, was one of Oscar Peterson's favourite tunes (mine too) and the trio gave it one helluva work out. Maybe not quite what Frank Loesser had in mind when he wrote it. The melody actually reminds me of the theme from The Dambusters March. AC2 Lance

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