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

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

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

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 25: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 25: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Forgotten Ones & Any Quintets.
Thu 25: Edgar Ho Trio @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Brilliant alto sax, piano & double bass trio. Unmissable!
Thu 25: 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 26: Finn-Keeble Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9:00.
Fri 26: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 26: Clark Tracey @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. £26.00. Day 1/2.

Sat 27: OUTRI @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £13.01. 1:00-1:45pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Richardson & Westgarth Sport & Social Club, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. Note change of venue.
Sat 27: House of the Black Gardenia + Magpies of Swing @ The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 2:15-3:15pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 3:45-4:45pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Rory Ingham @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 5:30-6:30pm. £19.51. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Ingham w. Dean Stockdale, Ian Paterson, Dave McKeague.
Sat 27: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 27: Laura Jurd @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £26.00. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Sat 27: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: Tim Kliphuis Trio @ St Mary’s Church, Wooler. 3:00pm. £18.00., £6.00. A Wooler Arts Summer Concerts event. Tim Kliphuis (violin); Nigel Clark (guitar); Roy Percy (double bass).
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: An Evening of Jazz @ St James’ Church, Copper Chare, Morpeth. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 from 01670 788869 or 01670 519923. Mid Northumberland Chorus (MD Robin Forbes, Emma Straughan, piano) w. jazz trio featuring Edgar Ho, Oscar Ho & Dave McKeague & special guest Emily Masser. Performance inc. Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass + George Shearing’s Songs & Sonnets.
Sun 28: Led Bib @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.00., £12.00. JNE.

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.

Monday, July 07, 2014

RIP Kathy Stobart


Just heard the sad news that Kathy Stobart died on July 5. Born in South Shields (1925) Kathy has always been held in warm affection by north east jazz fans starting her professional career with Peter Fielding's Band at the Oxford Galleries aged 17. Moving to London soon after she played in a variety of bands big and small. Married and divorced Canadian bassist Art Thompson and later trumpeter Bert Courtley with whom she briefly co-lead a modern sextet.
Spells with Vic Lewis and Humphrey Lyttleton followed and it was in Humph's band she spent her later playing years.
In the photo she is leading her own band with Lennie Best on vibes at the 1982 Newcastle Jazz Festival.
Arguably the first outstanding British female sax player Kathy was also considered by many to be "The First Lady of British Jazz" not bad for a lass from Shields!
Very sadly missed.
Kathy was 89.
Obituary.
Lance.
PS: Kathy's brother the late Ralph Stobart was an early member of the Customs House Big Band.
at

6 comments :

Brian Bennett said...

Although I only saw Kathy on 2 occasions, both with trumpeter, Humphrey Lyttelton, she certainly made a lasting impression. The first occasion was at Newcastle Guildhall on the Quayside sometime in the early 1970's. The front-liners, Humph; Kathy, tenor & baritone sax and the brilliant Bruce Turner on alto were truly incredible - I can't recall the rhythm section but they were dynamic, too. Can anyone name them? Although I knew Kathy was from South Shields, I was unaware she had a brother who also played sax, until bass player, Derek Dixon, mentioned doing gigs with 'Ralphy' Stobart. Thinking back, the Guildhall was a terrific venue for jazz. Great acoustics, cabaret seating (no problem getting to the bar for a refill) and the Sunday afternoon concerts with The Newcastle Big Band were memorable.

Monday, July 07, 2014 5:40:00 pm
Steve Andrews (on F/b) said...

A great saxophonist, and a pioneer woman jazz musician competing at the top level. Sorry to hear this.

Monday, July 07, 2014 6:33:00 pm
Mia Webb (on F/b) said...

Very sad news. I used to pick Ralph up and take him to the Customs House rehearsals when Kim first joined. I met Kathy a few times, she was a lovely lady.

Monday, July 07, 2014 6:34:00 pm
Hugh said...

A sad loss. Her album "Arbeia" is a favourite of ours, first purchased in the original vinyl format, but now also on CD.

Wednesday, July 09, 2014 10:19:00 pm
Hugh said...

Listen out for a track from Arbeia - "Cry of Triumph" together with more from Kathy Stobart on Radio 3's Jazz Record Requests this coming Saturday http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04fy978

Thursday, August 28, 2014 8:38:00 pm
Michael Dunn said...

Kathy introduced me to the world of jazz when we both worked at Bill Lewington's in the late 1960's. A lovely lady, and a lasting influence.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 12:29:00 pm

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