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

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 Kevin Eland (trumpet).
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.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

ACV @ Cluny 2. February 28

Andy Champion (double bass),  Paul Edis (keyboards), Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophones), Mark Williams (guitar) & Adrian Tilbrook (drums).
New CD in the can (release date hopefully sometime soon), Andy Champion’s five piece band played a gig on home turf down in the Ouseburn for Schmazz @ The Cluny. Studio sessions behind them, the boys were in top gear from the off. 
Highlights were many, none more so than A Line Made by Walking. Guitarist Mark Williams and saxophonist Graeme Wilson appear to operate by telepathy in developing a line; Williams, then Wilson, Wilson, Williams, Williams, Wilson, then in unison. Never Ever (it is on the new CD) with an arco bass pattern also featured Williams. 
What’s For Breakfast? was playful, deceptively so, as Wilson’s baritone signalled a power surge with the band going into overdrive. Up river a half mile or so from the Cluny is a Tyneside landmark linking a beer drinker’s paradise –  The Crown Posada – via seemingly endless, steep stone steps to another beer drinker’s paradise – The Bridge Hotel. Locally this Bacchanalian Stairway to Drinker’s Heaven is known as Dog Leap Stairs. Bandleader Champion likes a half of shandy now and again so he thought it a good idea to write a tune and call it Dog Leap Stairs. On the evidence of this first public airing of the tune it could become a firm favourite (Wilson on baritone and guitarist Williams once more impressed a most receptive audience). Oh, yes – the tune is on the new, hopefully soon to be released CD.  
A new tune – Second Season – let those who didn’t know it that Graeme Wilson is a fine lyrical tenor player. He could have been playing for vocalist Ruth Lambert (they have worked together for years) or perhaps Zoe Gilby such was the delicacy. More familiar ACV material followed – Giant Mice (forever more in cyberspace folklore - checkout Dancing Dude on YouTube) and another beer related number Dust Red (checkout the excellent Consett Brewery) featured a bass solo and Wilson’s tenor. Paul Edis (keyboards), the quiet man of the quintet is always impressive whatever the context and   here at the Cluny was no different. The man at the back – Adrian Tilbrook – looked like he was enjoying the occasion  and the encore (Without Bones) has become something of a tradition. 
If you haven’t heard the band play this number then get along to one of their gigs asap. It is difficult to convey just how good it is. Drums, guitar, tenor, bass, keys – all play their socks off. If you’re within a hundred miles of Leeds on Thursday night do yourself a favour and get along to Spin Off. It just so happens ACV will be there.
Above photo courtesy of Adrian Tilbrook.
Russell        
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