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

18573 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 437 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 28) 91

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

May

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

June

Mon 01: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Mon 01: CW Stoneking @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Blues, Americana.

Tue 02: Mark Williams Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 02: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 03: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 03: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 03: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Postmodern Jukebox @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Thu 04: 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 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 05: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 05: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 05-Thu 11: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne. Screenings TBC.
Fri 05: Pete Tanton & Alan Law @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 05: House of the Black Gardenia: Summer Tyne Swing Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £130.00; £95.00; £70.00; £50.00. Note: all day dance event (classes & socials). House of the Black Gardenia evening performance. Day 1/3.
Fri 05: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band + IKS Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £24.00. Big band double bill. IKS Big Band (Germany).
Fri 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00

Sunday, July 11, 2010

CUT SHORT AT THE FRINGE! PAUL EDIS SEXTET/ZOE GILBY at the Boardwalk, Whitley Bay

I arrived late, having failed to spot the venue from the road and found traffic wardens menacing all the musicians’ cars outside. Welcome to Whitley Bay! Sadly, Paul had been ticketed before I could get the keys and move his car and I missed more of the set before catching the last few bars of Black Orpheus. I enjoyed all of Waltz and Three Funked Mice as well as Part Three of Paul’s suite entitled It’s Behind You. An impromptu burst of Happy Birthday To You (for the trombonist, Chris Hibberd) got such generous applause that Paul is planning to include it at all future gigs! The set concluded with the barnstorming Big Jug Blues, to more generous applause from an appreciative audience.
Next up was Zoe Gilby who took us through several well-known numbers such as I'm Beginning to See the Light and I Only Have Eyes For You, with arrangements and delivery which made them fresh and interesting, as well as originals from the Gilby/Champion songbook (soon to be Champion/Champion!) such as Your Words. Zoe also treated us to a sung “thank you…and don’t forget to come to the evening gig, after the football” which was both ingenious and tuneful.
All were eclipsed by a sizzling Peggy Lee number, Some Cats Know, where the “knowledge” in question was clearly more carnal than academic! After which, sadly, I had to leave for fear that the jobsworths would get me for overstaying in the car-park.
Welcome to Whitley Bay!
Jerry E.

2 comments :

Lance said...

Friends of mine spent £60 on tickets for a concert at The Sage then came out and found themselves hit with a £50 ticket reduced to £25 for prompt payment.

Jay and Kay said...

Regarding The Boardwalk sessions on Sunday afternoon. We totally endorse everything written by Jerry E. The Paul Edis Sextet was a great opener and Zoe had me wiping a tear at one moment and well the rest can be left to my imagination. She deserves to be a Champion!!(Sorry about that) The backing was as ever excellent.
However it was a pity Jerry E. had to leave before the Alter Ego set(blame the traffic warden) he would have loved it I feel sure as they rounded off the session in fine style. Some very lively solos and as a group the sound was great, we could have listened for another hour.
Thank you Zoe and the team for organising such a splended day we don't normally wish our time away but roll on September and more Jazz at The Bridge.
Jay & Kay.

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