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

18602 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 466 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 8) 17

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

Sat 13: Ladies of Midnight Blue + Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington NE63 9YF. Free. From 10:00am. Ladies of Midnight Blue (3:00-3:45pm); Northern Monkey Brass Band (4:00-4:45pm).
Sat 13: Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 13: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Saltburn Bandstand. 2:30-4:30pm. Free.
Sat 13: Courtney Pine @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £35.80. Pine (saxophones); Robert Mitchell (piano); Rio Kai (double bass); Romarna Campbell (drums). ‘A Modern-Day Jazz Story 1986 - 2026’.

Sun 14: Front Porch Band: Swing Tyne’s Swing Social @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations (£5.00. - £10.00. suggested). Swing dance event w. taster class (12:30pm).
Sun 14: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 14: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 14: Doctor Jazz @ The Old Church, Sacriston, Durham. 3:00-5:00pm . Free (donations welcome). New Orleans, blues & classic 20th century songs. Food & soft drinks available, BYOB.
Sun 14: Eddie Gripper Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.

Mon 15: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 15: Dan Johnson w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 16: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 16: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 18: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: 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 19: Joe Steels Group @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 19: Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £14.33., £11.16., £8.00.
Fri 19: Martin Litton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 (inc. bf); £6.50 (inc. bf); £15.00 on the door. Solo piano. CANCELLED!
Fri 19: Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Joe Webb support set.
Fri 19: Hot Club du Nord @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Jive Aces: The Roots of Rock & Roll @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00 + bf.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Paul Edis Trio – Jazz Café December 13

Paul Edis (piano) Mick Shoulder (bass) Adam Sinclair (drums)
(Review by Kath Jobes)
This was the first of a regular spot for the Paul Edis Trio, 2nd Friday of the month, and if this evening’s set was anything to go by, it will be a good night out!  This was my second sojourn to the recently re-opened and refurbished Jazz Cafe and after the initial shock of the changes it’s beginning to grow on me, I particularly like the sheet music wallpapered onto the stairwell, a much brighter feel now, and the ambience is growing  as a small appreciative audience settles in… a work in progress… yes indeed. 
Monks Dream Set us away with a lively start, and set the tone for the evening… this tight trio regularly features 4s between the members so everyone gets a chance to shine… and shine they did.  After the first number the front of the piano came off, and suddenly we had a brighter sound as Oscar Peterson’s version of Moten Swing rung out through the room, and an intricate bass solo from Mick Shoulder warmed his fingers up for the next number –Bill Evan’s  Funkallero, described in the real book as an upbeat swing… this was a superfast interpretation with a terrific drum intro from Adam Sinclair.  Bluesette and One Note Samba came next with another brilliant Drum Solo from Sinclair.  I’m Old Fashioned was a soft and gentle contrast, with an exquisite bass solo. I could listen to this bass all night.  The last number of the set was another Bill Evans number, Peri’s Scope …and really showed off the nimble fingers of both pianist and bass player –tremendous!
The second set commences with Edis on playing Yesterdays, the elaborate improvisation included a phrase from Stella by Starlight and boy does this robin sing!  Ruth Lambert was then welcomed to centre stage to feature for a couple of songs, firstly another of my favourites… West Coast Blues, and then a wickedly naughty interpretation of Santa Baby, gutsy but cheeky… we need to see more of this lovely singer…. Don’t worry Ruth, I won’t tell the readers that you were in your jeans… a lovely long flowing dress… well maybe next time?
Cy Coleman’s Witchcraft once more featured that lovely bass and 4s before fading away beautifully.  A Paul Edis original – Mr Hipster had a rhythmic start moving into a medium swing, before returning to the rhythmic ending… if you want to hear it, it’s on his latest CD… definitely worth buying folks.  Next came a piano tribute to the late Stan Tracy who passed away earlier this week, Body and Soul… Edis really showed his skill as key changes gave depth and beauty to this piece… a pleasure to listen to and it brought a tear to the eye of Joan Parker who was one of Tracy’s dearest friends. 
The mood continued as the trio moved on to play Duke Ellington’s In a Mellow Tone, which brought forth reminiscences from Dave and Joan Parker, as they remembered their old friend playing this in Darlington with Roy Babbington on Bass and Clark Tracy on Drums… good times.   The final number of the night was Monk’s Rhythm-a- Ning, a dazzling end to an excellent night of Jazz.
Kath J.

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