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.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Jazz Machine @ The Victoria, Whitley Bay. April 22

Pepe Greenaway (alto saxophone), Jayne Robertson (flute), Tony Kindlan (guitar), Dave Parker (bass), Peter Ninnim (drums), Richard Herdman (guitar) & Ray Burns (harmonica & guitar)
(Review by Russell)
The Victoria on Whitley Road is a big roadhouse of a pub. Chelsea’s European adventure occupied the many plasma screens, a range of ‘popular’ (non-real ale) beers occupied the bar, sophisticated locals drinking brand lager from flower vases. A buskers’ night delayed by the football (FT 0-0), the jazz cats were at it, undisturbed, in the upstairs room. 
A pint of Guinness ordered, ascending the stairs the music of John Coltrane could be heard. Taking a seat alongside a familiar face in the audience (the familiar face was the audience), the format of the session led by altoist Pepe Greenaway resembled that of Dave Weisser’s long-running Take it to the Bridge workshop. Jazz cats running through a few tunes, much banter, admiring glances at an old valve amp, some sitting out to replenish a glass.
Love for Sale, Bye Bye Blackbird, a false start to What is This Thing Called Love?, drummer Peter Ninnim wanting it uptempo. I’ll count it in he said. Flautist Jayne Robertson knew the tunes, she also knew she would struggle to be heard. Guitarist Tony Kindlan shared a music stand with bassist Dave Parker, Greenaway content with what he was hearing. London based guitarist Richard Herdman, visiting family in County Durham, turned up, plugged in and played. Ray Burns arrived and got on board a Slow Boat to China. Herdman suggested Tangerine. One or two didn’t know it but that didn’t stop them – that’s jazz. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (not anymore it don’t!), Tea For Two and others made for a welcome change to the usual at such sessions. The evening drew to a close with one then another packing up, diminishing numbers determined its end. Herdman and Burns played guitar duets, oblivious to the one-by-one disappearance of the others.
Pepe Greenaway’s efforts to establish a scene at the coast deserve support. Admission is free, 8:00 pm, on each of the last two Tuesdays in the month (the next one is next week – April 29).        
Russell.
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