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

18585 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 449 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 31) 103

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

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: Webster’s Ragtime Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £17.00. Trio from Texas, USA.
Thu 04: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues excellence!
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

Sat 06: Struggle Buggy @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 06: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 06: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Dry Water Arts, Amble. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £15.00.
Sat 06: IKS Big Band: 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). IKS Big Band evening performance. Day 2/3.
Sat 06: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Northumbrian Revival, West Benridge Farm, nr. Morpeth NE61 3RZ. 7:30-9:30pm. £21.47 (£2.77. child). 82nd D-Day anniversary event.
Sat 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 06: FILM: The Magic City: Birmingham According to Sun Ra @ The Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 9:30pm. £7.00., £5.00. Dir. Guillaume Maupin & Pablo Guarise.

Sun 07: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 07: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Steve Walker (trumpet).
Sun 07: Joe Steels: Celebrating Wes @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Trio: Joe Steels, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Sun 07: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Eddie Gripper Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.
Sun 07: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Magpies of Swing: Summer Tyne Swing Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £130.00; £95.00; £70.00; £50.00. Note: all day dance event (classes & socials). Magpies of Swing afternoon performance. Day 3/3.
Sun 07: Webster’s Ragtime Trio @ The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 7:00pm. £12.50. Trio from Texas, USA.
Sun 07: Salty Dog @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm. £5.00. Performance in the Studio venue.
Sun 07: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Riding Mill Village Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 07: Swing Manouche @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Feat. Steve McGarvie (clarinet).

Mon 08: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 08: Dave Bristow Quintet @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £22.00., £11.00., £5.50. Bristow (piano); Christian Altehülshorst (trumpet); Félix Hardouin (alto sax); Gabriel Pierre (double bass); Guillaume Prévost (drums).

Monday, August 01, 2011

Identity Parade!

Lance, I was looking up some information on Newcastle Jazz in the '50s and I came across a mention of the Newcastle Jazz Club in the Royal Arcade and a link to a photograph. I couldn't find the photograph but I contacted Steve Ellwood who owns the site http://www.steve-ellwood.org.uk/ and he kindly sent me a copy and gave me permission to use it. Steve tells me that this was sent to him a long time ago and he can't remember the source but it was named Royal Arcade - Newcastle Jazz Club and he thought the band was George Hornsby's. It looks a bit posh for a Jazz Club and I was told that George used to have a residency at the Milvain, could it be there? If you think any of your readers might have an input please feel free.
Alfred Stone.

12 comments :

Lance said...

Well Alf, I never was in the Arcade Jazz Club as it was a little before my time. However, the arcade was quite an elegant place so it is possible.
I don't recall George Hornsby either although they look to be a dance band rather than the trad outfits that played at the club.
As regards the Milvain, I only knew it after the fire in 1960 so I couldn't comment on that either.
Which means that it's up to any guys out there old enough to remember the Royal Arcade Jazz Club or the Milvain in it's glory days as a dance hall. I seem to recall that Freddy Stebbings had a residency there in the 1950s.
Suggestions please.

Roly said...

Before my time too Lance but interesting you mention Freddy Stebbings - my Uncle Ron (Scone) Veitch (drummer) was my dad's youngest brother. He played a long term residency with Freddy (in a trio) at The Pineapple Club at Elswick. I went along to see them a few times - it included s good jazzy pianist who's name I can't remember. The pianist played me some blues and boogie woogie which I liked at the time. Early 60s I would think. I was getting into jazz then - via Peterson mainly (I got the Night Train album and was hooked). Its not Ron on the photo though.
Roly

Miles said...

Hi Lance, That picture is not the Jazz club in the Royal Arcade which was in the Socialist Hall which was also used for "spuggie" (spiritual) meetings. It was a fairly small, grungy, oblong room upstairs at the far end of the Arcade I was only there twice, once to see Josh White the folk & blues singer, he sang the House Of The Rising Sun & I sometimes wonder if that's where the Animals got the song from. I also saw Mick Mulligan & Melly there with Ronnie McLean depping on trombone.
I was once or twice at the Milvain the band had M H on the music stands whoever they were. The most everlasting memory of the place is dodging the battles. Oh happy days (mid fifties).
Miles

Jack Goodwin said...

That certainly wasn't the Arcade Jazz Club. I played there with Clem Avery, John Wheatley, John Saxelby, Peter Deuchar, Eric Miller, etc, etc. and we used to practice there on a fairly regular basis. One highlight was when Big Bill Broonzy visited the Club. Peter Deuchar gave him a bottle of ten year old malt and Bill just sang and sang - accompamied by the resident local musicians for some numbers. A great memory.
Jack Goodwin.

Alf Stone said...

Lance and friends.
Thanks for your input.
Regards,
Alf

Anonymous said...

any more info on the freddie stebbings band

Unknown said...

This photo was taken in the Milvain and my grandad was playing the drums in the photo

Lance said...

Thanks (not) a lot for that! As you don't give your name or that of your grandfather we're no further forward apart from the fact that it confirms that it was the Milvain on Westgate Rd.

Nick Wright said...

My grandad was called Jack Wright who came from Blaydon and all I can tell you was the man playing the trumpet was called Ronnie

Lance said...

Nick, I remember Jack Wright - if it's the same one. Occasionally played drums at the Bluebell in Felling on a Sunday lunchtime with Arthur and Billy Luke and Teddy Langston - this would be mid-1960s

Unknown said...

Icm not sure, I was born in the late 60s and can never remember my grandad ever playing drums from that time onwards but I will have a word with my dad and see if he remembers anything else about when and where he played.

Lance said...

Nick, looking at the photo again, I don't think the drummer was the Jack Wright I knew but then again... it was a long time ago!

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