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.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Am Jam @ The Globe. November 9

(Review by Russell).
Newcastle won. Time to head for the Globe. Taking the stairs (the recently installed lift didn’t seem to be working), that was the unmistakable sound of Fly Me to the Moon. As last month, Keith (guitar) lead the second Sunday in the month Am Jam session.
Three tenors (one doubling effectively on flute), a second guitarist, bass and drums. The tunes much the same as last time (the pad will develop over time); Blue Bossa, All of Me (the impressive Julie singing this one), Nica’s Dream with Fiona cruising on vocals, then Minnie sang Lullaby of Birdland. The heating on, the place seemed welcoming! Curtains hung since last time, things are taking shape. A few more listeners too. Take the A Train (Julie and Patrick’s sister vocals), Groovin’ High, then Patrick himself took the floor. He had recently written a poem a matter of days before marrying his third and last (current?) wife. He read it – For Whom the Scribe Scrolls. Ann arrived (late) and could hardly wait to reprise Fly Me to the Moon.
The band went for Billie’s Bounce (more work required on this one), then ‘up for it’ took on Pentup House. They took a second stab at it – Sonny Rollins won’t be losing any sleep over it! Julie returned to sing Satin Doll (good brushes from Alan) and that was about it.
Am Jam is a friendly, welcoming session. It isn’t a cutting contest. The least experienced players will receive a friendly welcome in a supportive environment. In two weeks’ time (Sunday 23, 3:00pm) Stuart Finden will lead the More Jam session (for ‘More’ best think ‘more advanced’), then Am Jam returns on Sunday 14 December, 3:00pm. All welcome.              
Russell. 

4 comments :

Jazz Co-op (On F/b). said...

Thank you Russell for nice review of our 'friendly, welcoming jam session'. And the lift is definitely working!

Minnie said...

Actually, I think we did forget to switch the lift on on Sunday - so sorry about that! We will remember in future!

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex, I didn't even know they'd already done 'Fly Me to The Moon'. That's what you get for being late, but I was at a family do! Can't wait to try the lift next time!

Lance said...

Anonymous Ann Alex (AAA) - why weren't you at the Kate Daniels gig at Lit & Phil? You'd have had your singing batteries charged tonight! You could also dig Ruth at Caff tomorrow.

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