Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,086 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 950 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 7) 20.

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

November

Sun 08: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 3/3.
Sun 08: ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 08: Kaberry Big Band @ Forest Hall Social Club. 3:00pm. £7.00 (inc. tea & cake). Charity event for the Poppy Appeal.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00.; £5.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This afternoon’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet) & Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!
Mon 09: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 09: Bechet-Spanier Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Muggsy Spanier was born 125 years ago today (9 November 1901). This evening’s all-star quartet - from London, Lewis Taylor (cornet), from London, Michael McQuaid (reeds), from Paris, Félix Hunot (guitar), from London, Harry Evans (string bass) - salutes Muggsy!

Tue 10: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Becky Tuck (vocals).
Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 11: Plague Doctors Cure All + Noonward @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Thu 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 12: JANE @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 12: MoonMot + Jack Banjo’s Snackwall @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 12: Ratio: Swingin’ Through the Decades @ The Forum, Darlington. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £10.00. A charity fundraiser.
Thu 12: Look Left @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Thu 12: Michael Woods @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Acoustic blues.

Fri 13: Giles Strong Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Giles Strong (guitar); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 13: Lapwing Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Richard Herdman, Nick Bagnell, Paula Whitty.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Hexham Lantern Parade, Bandstand, Sele, Hexham. 6:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Sharp Collective @ Dry Water Arts, Amble. 7:00pm.
Fri 13: East Coast Swing Band @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:30pm.
Fri 13: Guisborough Big Band @ Saltburn Golf Club. 7:30pm. Tickets: £15.00 (inc. pie & peas

Sat 14: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. £95.00. Day 1/2. SOLD OUT!
Sat 14: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 14: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20 (inc. bf); £11.00 concs (inc. bf).
Sat 14: Red Kites Jazz @ Staiths Café, Gateshead. 7:00pm.
Sat 14: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Tweed Gallery, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, November 09, 2026

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Greg Abate w. the Dean Stockdale Trio - Nov. 8

© Sheila
Greg Abate (alto sax, flute); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

As he did on his previous visit to the Globe,  Greg got things off to a flying start with Yardbird Suite. What a sound! The best alto sound I've heard since ... well, er, since the last time Greg was in town. The crowded room concurred. Spurred on by the 5-star rhythm section he soared through the changes. Dean, Mick and Abbie too were at the top of their game. Close your eyes and you were uptown at Minton's. Who's that who just walked in? It's Bud Powell "Hi Bud".

© Sylvia
As he did on his previous visit to the Globe, Greg followed with Lee Morgan's Ceora. A delicate Latin tinged number evocatively played but, I thought, is this going to be an evening of deja vu? It wasn't. The chops warmed up, last year's programme was shelved - at least for the time being. 

The flute came in to play on John Lewis' Afternoon in Paris. Another great sound and more super solos all round.

Back to the alto for Footprints. Wayne Shorter's opus always gets a good workout no matter who's in the gym and tonight was no exception. All four had their say. At times it verged on the edge of sanity but their innate musicality kept the men in white coats at bay.

Ever since Coleman Hawkins set a high bar for saxophonists with Body and Soul many have taken up the challenge but few have succeeded. I rather think that Greg may have joined that elite squad. It was breathtaking. In the broader picture, Dean and Mick also made the rankings with Abbie solid in support. The final number of the set was announced as Scrapple From the Apple but wasn't! It sounded familiar but I couldn't name it. Typical closer with lots of explosions.

© Sylvia
Nobody left during the interval - how could they? Hey isn't that Charlie Parker at the bar? "Hi Bird, we put Scrapple From the Apple on hold 'til you got here". If Bird had been present he'd have loved this take on his famous composition. All four swingin' like crazy. Lots going on: Greg trading with Abbie as well as duologues with Dean and Mick.

A Greg original for flute, Contemplation, set a comfortable mood followed by A Night in Woonsocket, a contrafact of Satin Doll, although before the piece was over, the Satin Doll herself emerged in full splendour as if she'd said "No guy from Rhode Island contrafacts me!"

Softly as in a Morning Sunrise was anything but! Greg, of course was magnificent but so too were Dean Mick and Abbie - an advance peek at Heaven. A couple of my favourite ballads, Laura and Willow Weep For me took us to John Coltrane's Lazy Bird - "Hi Trane we saved this one for you ..."

Quite a night and next week it's Liane Carroll at the Globe. These Sunday night sessions sure are the real deal. Lance
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive