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, April 15, 2013

Listening to Louis on Radio 2

Listening to the BBC archive recording of Humph and Wynton Marsalis talking about Louis Armstrong.
Very interesting. they also pose the question of favourite Louis recordings. so here are mine.
Hot Five: Cornet Chop Suey. This told me he could get around the horn. (I was 15 year old playing 3rd cornet in a brass band and it hit me that this guy could carve our solo cornet with ease!).
Interestingly, Humph and Wynton talk about South Shields cornet maestro George Swift who died in 1985. One wonders if jazz really began in South Shields?
Orchestra: Swing That Music. Now on trumpet and singing, this was, for me, the best of the often maligned big band recordings.
All Stars (Teagarden): The New York Town Hall Concert the gig that told the world that Louis was back in Jazzland.
All Stars (Trummy): Satch Plays W.C. Handy. Possibly the greatest version of St. Louis Blues ever!
Vocal: A Kiss to Build a Dream on can't be beat.
Maybe you'd like to suggest some of yours.
Lance.
Available here for 7 days.
at

4 comments :

Roly said...

My favourite, among all the gems, is the 1928 duet with Earl Hines 'Weather Bird'. Other favourites - Savoy Blues 1927 with the great Lonnie Johnson. 1947 All Stars with Teagarden 'Stars Fell on Alabama' possibly one of the most moving tracks in all of jazz?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 10:41:00 pm
Miles said...

Hi Lance yes I heard it, it was great, as for favourites where do I start he never made a bad record.
Hotter Than That - Hot Five with Lonnie Johnson.
Jack Armstrong Blues - All Stars with Jack Teagarden.
When You're Smiling - Autobiography LP. (Reserved for my funeral.)
Stars Fell On Alabama - Ella & Louis.
What A Wonderful World - Even as an old man still turning dross into gold.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 10:50:00 pm
CCJAZZMEN said...

Hi Lance, now this is a hard one so much good stuff out there.

1) Cornet Chop Suey (Rec 1926) (The Hot Five)
This is a recording that any young aspiring jazz trumpet player should listen and learn from, it's all there, and Louis way ahead of his time, no one else was playing like this at that time.

2) When Your Smiling (Rec 1929) (His Orchestra)
Once again Louis playing things here, that no one else was doing, that last chorus out, where he is playing those fat top E's and holding the melody up an octave, is difficult to sustain to this day.

3) Back O'Town Blues (Rec 1947) (The All Stars)
From the town hall concerts, with Jack Teagarden, this recording reminds me so much of some of the things I have to deal with at Ned Kelly's, just listen to how Louis put's the heckler in his place, (Shut Up "Boy") absolute magic, plus a great vocal from Louis, wonderful atmosphere and fun.

4) Ella & Louis (Rec 1956)
This is a wonderful album, and sounds as fresh today, as if it was recorded just recently, two of the top entertainers of their time, and a great rhythm section with Oscar Peterson.

5) For this Lance I agree with you,for his output in the 1960's, I would have to go with Give Me A Kiss to Build A Dream On, this and What A Wonderful World are still very popular in Hong Kong with many young people, and every night we get requests for both, but for me it is A Kiss To Build A Dream On.

Colin Aitchison
Bandleader
Ned Kelly's Last Stand
Hong Kong.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 5:40:00 am
DAVE kERR said...

Hi Lance,
It is very difficult to make a choice but probably my favourite solo is the two twelve bar choruses in Savoy Blues recorded late at night after presumably a long night playing a gig.
Also do not overlook his early efforts with Fletcher Henderson he plays a wonderful solo on Why Couldn't It Be Poor little Me.
From the 193O's his huge out put makes it almost impossible to select but I always loved the relaxed playing on Song Of The Islands.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 4:07:00 pm

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