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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Headhunters descend on Under The Bridge for their only UK date in 2013 25th April 2013, 7PM Under the Bridge, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS


Although some 300 miles away from our normal stomping ground I think a lot of our regulars may be interested in the sole UK appearance of The Headhunters. - particularly those interested in some of the more peripheral  forms of contemporary jazz.
Read what Dom Christopher has to say about the gig...
Lance.
Legendary pianist Herbie Hancock’s renowned backing band, The Headhunters, will play their first gig in the UK for over two years when they come to state-of-the-art West London venue Under The Bridge this April.

First assembled in 1973 the band marked a notable change in musical direction for Hancock. The subsequent 1973 album ‘Headhunters’ is the first album to garner gold status in jazz history. Following the release of ‘Head Hunters’ the band toured and recorded for several years with Hancock, releasing the masterpieces Thrust (1974), Flood (1975), and Manchild (1975).  In 1976 the Headhunters ventured out on their own, recording the classic Survival Of The Fittest, followed by Straight to the Gate (1978), Return of the Headhunters (1998), and Evolution Revolution in 2003. Last year the band released Platinum, an album that bridges genres and generations, deftly switching between Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk, Rap and R&B, and featuring guest appearances from the likes of Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, and Killah Priest.
Featuring original members Mike Clark (drums) and Bill Summers (percussion), the current incarnation is completed by Reggie Washington on bass, Rob Dixon on tenor sax and Rob Bargad on the keys.
Spanning the globe from Africa to Broadway, The Headhunters' music is a complex but harmonious blend of many styles and genres. From the instant funk classic “Chameleon” to the rare-groove sound of “God Make Me Funky”, one of the most sampled jazz/fusion songs in modern music history, the Headhunters have redefined modern funk, world music, and jazz as one of the most innovative groups of all time.
Dom Christophers

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

"The subsequent 1973 album ‘Headhunters’ is the first album to garner gold status in jazz history".
I don't think that's right, "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis got gold a year after its released in 1970 and "Time Out" by Brubeck before that in 1959. Also it seems the first ever gold record was by Glen Miller: Chattanooga Choo Choo in 1942.

Pierre

Lance said...

Yes I too found this questionable. Getz/Gilberto also preceded Headhunters.

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