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).

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

T.J. Johnson Band @ Boston Spa. Sat. March 10.

T J Johnson -  vocal/piano; Al Nichols tenor sax, Jay Darwish bass, Jack Cotterill drums, Tony Pitt guitar/banjo
Not the usual "jazz only" repertoire likely from this band, we were told to expect jazz, blues, soul, country and gospel..........wow, did they deliver!
One look at the musicians regularly playing with TJ and sell out shows at Ronnie Scott's showed his standing, tonight was sure no exception, four very talented guys joining him to give an outstanding performance that had the hall rocking ........
BB King's Never Make Your Move Too Soon was a great opener, then the tempo slowed with Sinatra's Come Fly With Me. Swannee River next, with Al Nichols showing what a fine sax player he is. Willie Nelson's Somebody Pick Up My Pieces, TJ using that oh so mellow voice on the slow numbers. Dylan's I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight was followed by swing number Lester Leaps In with solo spots all round.  Hoagy’s Georgia on my Mind, Prodigo (?), then a  blues - Night Life. The set finished with the gospel classic I’ll Fly Away.
We held our breath and waited to see if the guys could keep this up No - they improved on it!
Opening up with a spot of country in On The Road Again, then upbeat to Ain't Misbehavin’, and the classic blues Night Train featuring a solo from Al Nichols on tenor. Another mellow track next, Willie Nelson's Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground - not heard that track for some time - beautiful.
They Can’t Take That Away From Me was followed by a Dr John number If I Don’t Do It Somebody Else Will, then Sweet Sue with more great sax playing. Back to gospel, a lovely Lily of the Valley with Tony switching to banjo. Running Wild, then another Wllie Nelson classic Drinking Champagne and, all too soon, into the final number Let The Good Times Roll.
Superb playing from all five musicians drew a deserved ovation at the close........T J himself blends keyboard and vocals with ease, my particular favourites being the "slower" tracks. Al Nichols has his own "Blue Harlem" band based in London and wowed us all with his solo work. Tony Pitt showed his class all night with that unique guitar style of his, you can see why he is highly thought of. And of course ably backed up by Jay on bass & Jack on drums, already playing with established star musicians these guys will continue to thrive.
If you have not yet ventured down the A1 to "Jazz in the Spa", then you are missing a treat. This is a great club, welcoming friends with a regular Saturday night slot showcasing marvelous musicians ...what are you waiting for ....details at  www.jazzinthespa.co.uk
Ray Robson.

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