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

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

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.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Just Another Manic Sunday (Jazzwise!)

I love the Jazz Café Sunday Afternoon Jam Session. There is a feel about it that tells you that this is what jazz is all about.
A handful of guys and gals blowing/singing - creating.
Lyndsay was in great voice on Willow Weep and, particularly, the upbeat Deed I Do This latter tune jumped from the moment Meade Lux Gilligan started hitting those eighth note appegios in the left hand and pummelling block chords in the right. Pete was telling the cats on stage to move it - and move it they did!
Ms Hannon got the groove going and Mark Williams, the two saxes, and the fiddler - Elaine Binney - took it up.
It was g-o-o-d..... Eric Stutt and Paul Grainger made sure it stayed that way. Keep this session going Keith - I love it!
Talking 'bout the fiddler - Elaine took an extended chorus on My Funny Valentine that was quite simply beautiful. Lyndsay's vocal wasn't bad either! As the animated inebriate sitting in front of me said, "It was medolic (sic)"
And it really was. But I shouldn't single out! Everyone who gets up and blows at the JC is adding their page to jazz history
I reluctantly moved on down the road to the Bridge Hotel where If Destroyed Still True - conveniently abbreviated to IDST - were appearing as part of the Splinter Sunday night sessions. Jazz Café Photos.
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After leaving the feel-good factor of the Jazz Café for the sombreness of The Bridge I sensed, by the lack of bar activity, that this wasn't going to be a one for the diary...
Simon Kayler (ten/sop), Simon Beddoe (tpt/flg), Johnny Tomlinson (pno), Nick Tyson (gtr), Seth Bennett (bs), Tommy Evans (dms).
IDST are a great band - I love them, having heard them a couple of years back at Scarborough.
Tonight they made everyone - which wasn't many - realise what a good band they are and they were playing original material.
There were moments when they swung like as though Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers had been re-born in the 21st century! Tempo changes, floating, drifting rhythms - hard blowing. An amazing sound for an unmiked front-line.
Original material. This is always the stumbling block I have.
Is anyone going to be whistling these originals as they go to work tomorrow?
Is anyone going to work tomorrow?
Lance.
Next week HCW (replacing the Carpus Trio).
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