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

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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 TBC.
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.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Something for everyone at Newcastle Jazz and Blues

I was so excited when I received the following press release. However my enthusiasm was somewhat dampened after I read the first sentence... 
Over 75 live bands will take over a town centre this weekend to show off their talents in the Newcastle-under-Lyme Jazz & Blues Festival.
This year there are quality acts from around the UK and even as far afield as Greece and the USA, amid a hand-picked selection of the best local talent.
The gigs will take place over the bank holiday weekend in 17 venues across town and most are free entry. This year gigs will take place in locations you would less expect – such as the market square on Saturday at 12pm, and the Roebuck Shopping Centre lobby, as well as people’s favourite venues around town.
But the event is not just for music fanatics. There will be plenty for people of all walks of life and the whole family to enjoy. On Sunday there will be a craft and artisan market featuring a host of handmade and specialist products, as well as funfair rides for the kids and the chance to join in free ‘jitterbug’ dance workshops at the Missoula bar at 3pm.
And on bank holiday Monday, there will be a charity market and fun day with a host of stalls and fun activities to entertain the family.
Town Centre Manager Matt Taylor said:
“The Town Centre Partnership has worked with licensees to make this a really great event, with a programme which is genuinely packed with quality jazz and blues.
“From the second the festival kicks off with the Remi Harris Trio through to when The Funkbreakers play the final slot, there is a non-stop line-up of talent which just should not be missed by music fans.
“There are also a few performances which blur the edges of the genre to keep everyone happy, although this year we have taken the festival back to its Jazz and Blues theme on the whole”.
To help bring in new talent from further afield and broaden the horizons of the festival, the Town Centre Partnership has also been working with Big Bear Music which is responsible for the Birmingham Jazz and Blues festival. Representative from Big Bear Music Jim Simpson said:
“Birmingham Jazz Festival is now in its 30th year and it is a pleasure to bring some of what we have learned to help Newcastle deliver such a fantastic event.
“We are very much looking forward to enjoying what can only be described as a great programme in action in the town’s venues this weekend”.
Newcastle Borough council is also supporting the event with free parking on all council car parks and on-street charging zones over the Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
For the full festival guide, go to www.newcastlejazzandblues.co.uk 
Maybe next year we can substitute "under-Lyme" with "upon-Tyne"?
Lance.
at

1 comment :

Jim Fay (on F/b) said...

Ooops!

Thursday, May 22, 2014 7:12:00 pm

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