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

18573 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 437 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 28) 91

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

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.

Tue 02: Mark Williams Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
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.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Peter Gilligan interviewed by Zoe Gilby

Z: Tell us a bit about your band. How it formed? band line up and their influences?

P: The Music of Horace Silver band was formed following chats between Paul, Don and Myself about the prolific, brilliant composer that is Horace Silver. Prompted even further by the (inaccurate) reports of his death, we decided it would be cool to form a quintet and learn, play, attempt a selection of his music.

The band comprises,
Don Forbes (trumpet) The "Don" of local Jazz trumpet players. Regularly working with his quartet, and "Safe Sextet" Don also did a lot of the parts and arrangements. Gary Turner (Tenor Sax) Gary was good enough to step in at the last minute. Brilliant improviser with amazing tonal control. Again has been playing on the local scene for years. Currently doing great work with "The Pilgrim St Set"
Peter Gilligan (piano) Not Horace, but tonight heavily inspired by him. 
Paul Grainger (double bass) Paul is the bass player. He plays bass, and loves playing bass. That's why we book him  Great sound and swings like (insert appropriate)
Dave McKeague. (drums) Fantastic "in demand" drummer, Frequently working with a variety of local stars. Great listener and more chops than a butchers shop window.
It is the variety within Horace Silver's work that stands out to us. So expect fast Latin grooves, swing, Waltz's, Bebop and intricate subtle Ballads. 

Z: Best gig you've seen?
P: As far as best gigs go Jack DeJohnette 2012 at Sage Gateshead has cropped up as a favourite of several of us, also Joey Calderazzo with Joe Lovano, Chic Corea/ Gary Burton. Herbie Hancock, all spring to mind.

Z: Thanks Peter.
(Editor's note: The Music of Horace Silver by the Peter Gilligan Quintet is at the Bridge Hotel, Castle Garth, Newcastle NE1 5RQ on Sunday April 20, 8.15pm. Part of the Splinter @ The Bridge Spring Series of concerts.
Zoe Gilby, herself, can be heard tonight - April 19 - at the Salsa Café, Westgate Rd., Newcastle. 9.30pm.)

1 comment :

cptfinch said...

sounds a great band! dissapointed can't make tonight

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