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, May 01, 2013

Local Singer Tragically Killed

This is just too tragic for words.
Well known as a singer at Lindsay Hannon's jazz singing class at the Sage, Heather was also a regular performer at the Chilli and the Star and showed great potential.
Lance.

9 comments :

Michael Howard and Blue Jazz Quintet (on F/b) said...

We'll always remember you and your singing with us Heather.

Lance said...

Many more comments on our network F/b post.

Michael Papapavlou said...

What a tragic loss, she was such a very nice, warm woman, she will always be remembered and missed.

Andria Moffatt said...

My memories of you are as a new friend, made through the Blue/Jazz group, & we hit it off from the time you joined. You were a good listener when I needed a moan, & we talked often, & I still have the cd, (thanks to Gabrielle), of the time we sang on the Sage concourse that Jazz weekend. We had a great time. You will be a great miss Heather, by everyone who knew you. Memories never die. Gone too soon. God Bless you. xx

Anonymous said...

I still can't believe this and can hardly bear to think about it. Heather was a lovely warm person who gave me lifts to the metro and was interesting to talk to, and such a promising singer. She won't ever be forgotten by the Blue Jazz Voices.
Ann Alexander

Jennifer Errington said...

Can't get my head around the fact that we won't see Heather again. I also knew her through BJV and we went to a number of jazz events together. Last one was Courtney Pine at Hoochie Coochie. I can still see her lovely radiant smile, having a great time and enjoying being with friends. She had so much to live for. So very sad.
Jenx

Tess and Alice (on F/b) said...

Hi, I saw your name in the Chronicle article, which is how I have found this page. I hope that is okay. We sang with Heather for a short while with Newcastle Choral society. She joined our little "gang" in the back row and we'd go out/get together from time to time, after she moved on from the choir. What a smiley and friendly person she was....We are all so shocked and upset to hear of what has happened. We would be so grateful if anyone could share information about Heather's funeral or any memorial as and when it is arranged, as we are not in touch with any of her other friends. Many thanks, Tess King (with Alice Bosomworth)

Joan said...

Like everyone who met Heather I will miss her happy smiling face. I will also miss our long telephone and email conversations, her vibrant and intelligent contributions to Pink Lane Jazz Co-op and sharing her love for singing and listening to Jazz. I will always remember this beautiful serene and thoughtful woman. I will never understand how someone whose motto when dealing with disagreements was "to smile sweetly and nod" met such a violent end. May you children always be kept happy and safe. Love and peace be with you my friend.

Anonymous said...

Heather's memorial service is being held at 3pm on Tuesday 21st May 2013 at All Saints Church, Gosforth. I am sure it will be well attended as we all want to show our respect for Heather and her lovely children.

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