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

18602 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 466 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 8) 17

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 09: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
Tue 09: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 09: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:10pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.

Wed 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 10: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 10: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 10: John Garner & John Pope @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 11: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 11: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: MNO of the GASbook.
Thu 11: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:45pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
Thu 11: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 11: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Thu 11: 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 11: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 11: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free

Fri 12: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 12: Pete Tanton & Alan Law @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Tanton (trumpet, vocals); Law (piano).
Fri 12: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 12: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Cleveland Bay Hotel, Eaglescliffe. 9:00pm. Free.

Sat 13: Ladies of Midnight Blue + Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington NE63 9YF. Free. From 10:00am. Ladies of Midnight Blue (3:00-3:45pm); Northern Monkey Brass Band (4:00-4:45pm).
Sat 13: Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 13: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Saltburn Bandstand. 2:30-4:30pm. Free.
Sat 13: Courtney Pine @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £35.80. Pine (saxophones); Robert Mitchell (piano); Rio Kai (double bass); Romarna Campbell (drums). ‘A Modern-Day Jazz Story 1986 - 2026’.

Sun 14: Front Porch Band: Swing Tyne’s Swing Social @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations (£5.00. - £10.00. suggested). Swing dance event w. taster class (12:30pm).
Sun 14: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Doctor Jazz @ The Old Church, Sacriston, Durham. 3:00-5:00pm . Free (donations welcome). New Orleans, blues & classic 20th century songs. Food & soft drinks available, BYOB.
Sun 14: Eddie Gripper Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.

Mon 15: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 15: Dan Johnson w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Monday, January 02, 2012

Competition! A Free Pint of Ale from Lance - a rare opportunity!

The more observant of you will have noticed that the Christmas heading has gone and with it the old Art Blakey one.
The new header pictures a drummer, a saxophonist and a bass player.
A free pint of real ale - none of this foreign lager stuff or keg bitter - will be given to the first person to identify the sax player and the drummer. If you can also identify the bass player you get two pints as even I don't know who he is! (a copy of his passport and a DNA sample will be sufficient proof). The prize will be presented to the winner at the Bridge Hotel on Jan. 8 when Splinter return with a session by the Ruth Lambert Quintet.
Lance.

29 comments :

Anonymous said...

Is the bass player a young Eddie Gomez?
Roly

Robert Laing said...

Erskine, Brecker and Eddie Gomez?

Lance said...

As stated I don't know the bassist and it isn't Erskine and Brecker.

Anonymous said...

It's clearly a young Leon Britton on the sax and Donald Sutherland on the drums, but I don't recognise the bass player with no legs - is he one of the Zombies?

Lance said...

No!

Russell said...

Lew Tabakin with Mark Taylor (?) and Dill Katz (?).

Lance said...

No but Lew Tabackin was playing at the same festival with his wife Toshiko.
The band in the photo also included Curtis Fuller on trombone and Mose Allison on piano - the drummer was the leader.

Hil said...

Oh giz a chance Lance...lol...(poetry)

Now if it was a 'proper' picture we might have a chance of guessing who it was?

Lance said...

Well the man playing drums could be said to sound like a poet.

Lewis Watson said...

It is Michael Brecker with EddieGomez

and Steve Gadd

Lance said...

As I said I don't know who the bass player is - it was 30 years ago and he was a last minute choice.
However, it certainly isn't Gadd and Brecker.
The poetic drummer is the leader and the tenor player one of the early white boppers.

Russell said...

Got it! Lee Konitz and Paul Motian.

Lance said...

Nice try Russell but it isn't Poetry in Motian nor is it Lee Konitz.

Anonymous said...

Lance,
Presuming you're not doing a double bluff and its Art (William) Blake (y)again, then could it be Shelly (Manne) and Zoot Sims?
JC

Russell said...

This time I've got it...Buddy Rich and Art Pepper.

Lance said...

It ain't Rich it ain't Pepper, Russell you're going up the wrong alley.
JC you've got one out of three.

Anonymous said...

Can I claim half a pint, then?
JC

Lance said...

Depends upon whether or not someone else recognises both players.

Anonymous said...

How about Stan Getz for another half pint?
JC

Russell said...

Right then...it doesn't look like him - no hat - but is it Phil Woods? If so, I know the drummer - so mine's a pint.

Lance said...

Not Stan Getz - JC.
Russell, this guy plays tenor whereas you're picking guys who are predominantly alto players.
I must admit though that you're keen...

Lance said...

Final clue to the tenor player.
He sometimes dropped out of the scene (not because he was in jail)but because he had other interests.
He was still cool though.

Steve Andrews said...

Lucky Thompson?

Lance said...

Unlucky Thompson on this occasion Steve.
The guy was, arguably, the first white bop tenor player.

Steve Andrews said...

Alan Eager!

Lance said...

Well done Steve - IOU a pint!

Anonymous said...

Since you said winning the prize depended on recognising BOTH players, I say that they are Shelly Manne and Alan Eager and claim the pint!
JC

Lance said...

Well JC I will certainly buy you a pint when next I see you (unless, of course, the pub has a rear exit!)
Although technically speaking when Steve identified Allen Eager (correct spelling) you'd already hit on Shelly Manne and vice versa. However, I'm magnanimous enough to buy you both a pint as long as you don't turn up at the same time!

Steve Andrews said...

Thanks Lance! I can see that 2012 is going to be one hell of a year!

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