Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18656 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 520 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 25) 72

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

June

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 30: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

July

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 02: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 02: De’Sean Jones & Blaque Dynamite feat. Urban Art Orchestra @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). De’Sean Jones (MD, tenor sax); Blaque Dynamite (Mike Mitchell, drums); Jamie Murray (drums) with UAO horns & strings.
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.
Thu 02: Howlin’ Mat @ Newcastle Arts centre. 7:30pm. Free. Acoustic

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Paul Donnelly Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 03: Martin Taylor @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Taylor (solo guitar).

Sat 04: Spats Langham’s Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Take the ‘A’ Train to Summertime: From Melody to Masterclass. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest TBC.
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Scarborough - Sunday

Sunday morning up with the larks and more unhealthy eating with yet another big fat sausage sandwich - quaintly spelled 'sandwhich' on the menu. A stroll in the sunshine then back to The Spa. My initial reaction to Michael Rosen and the Homemade Orchestra was Curious, Reactionary, Anti-jazz, Performance. Apparently Michael Rosen is some kind of big deal in the world of children's poetry so perhaps I was too old to appreciate his humour which, in my eyes, paled into insignificance alongside that of Alan Barnes. However, to each his own, and I have to admit the parents and their offspring seemed to enjoy it so who am I to criticise? Michael obviously hit the market he was aiming at.
The band did have their moments with Tim Whitehead outstanding on tenor although I could take or leave his recorder playing.
The John Etheridge Christian Garrick Duo was another curates egg - when it was good it was very good but at times I felt a degree of blandness creeping in. For me the highlight was Alan Barnes joining in for a blast on "After You've Gone". Don't get me wrong, Etheridge and Garrick are monsters on their instrument but, for me, a bass player would have been welcomed. Arnie Somogyi's Scenes of the City. This was the real deal. A tribute to Mingus that performed the great man's music to perfection. Many of the pieces were from the album "Mingus Ah Um". Alan Barnes on alto and tenor, Tony Kofi alto and baritone were in top gear throughout and it was sheer Mingusian Magic. The feel good factor was with me.
Down to harbour for some of Harry Ramsden's chips, chatting with Fergie the Banjo en route (the only banjo in Scarborough that day!) then back for a solo set by Liane Carroll.
This girl can sing and play mighty fine piano in a program that had everything including Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, the Coasters' "Love Potion Number Nine" (Lieber and Stoller) - a great fave of mine - as was "Orange Coloured Sky". I recommended this last number to Eric for Debbie to sing with Budvivar if you're reading this Debs...
Finally - Ken Peplowski (clt/ten), Alan Barnes (alt/ten/clt), Dave Newton (pno), Arnie Somogyi (bs) and Steve Brown (dms).
This was the perfect finale five great musicians - what more can I say except - They Delivered!
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So it was all over, many many highs and very few lows. Also new friends such as Annie from Hull, Liz and Amy from Kent (and their respective spouses where applicable) plus the couple from Manchester who were fans of Claude Werner. Enjoyed meeting you all and I hope we meet up again next year.
Lance.
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