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

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 Kevin Eland (trumpet).
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.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Friday, February 27, 2015

More Jam @ The Globe. February 22

(Review by Russell)
The Newcastle Jazz Co-op’s monthly jam session designed for the more experienced musician drew a healthy number of participants (two or three of them being first time visitors) to the Railway Street venue located just off Scotswood Road between Metro Radio Arena and Newcastle College. The Findens (Stuart and Fiona) led the friendly gathering and Stuart opened on guitar with Ain’t Misbehavin’, Bernie’s Tune and, at violinist Kay Usher’s suggestion a Latin feel on Out of Nowhere.
The guitarists walked in. Friends Tom Lapworth (Ibanez) and Fardin Esfandiari (Strat) sat in on Ladybird, Solar and Blue Bossa. Young and talented, these guys are sitting in around town – catch them at a jam session soon. In walked John Rowland. With Stuart Finden on tenor preferring to leave the six string work to the young guns, a three-tenor horn section (the Findens and Rowland) played some bop, then the session’s highlight featured fabulous tenor from JR on In a Sentimental Mood.
The vocalists (an all-female roll call) had their say; Minnie Fraser Ain’t Misbehavin’, Julie Autumn Leaves and Ann Alex Fly Me to the Moon. ‘Mr Barman’ (aka Keith Barrett) grabbed the chance to play his wide-body Gibson on Bye Bye Blackbird. Graham Morris (yet another young guitarist) joined the party on Days of Wine and Roses.
Good to see Ray Truscott out and about. Our six-string maestro didn’t hang around too long (two or three tunes), but the stuff he laid down had ‘quality’ written all over it. The afternoon’s three hour session flew by and special mention for the bass and drums boys – Andrew and Andy – who worked ceaselessly for the love of it. More Jam meets again on Sunday 22 March (3:00-6:00pm). Free admission to performers and listeners alike. The ‘other’ jam session at the Globe – Am Jam – takes place next on Sunday 8 March, same time, same place. Led by Keith Barrett, if you are looking to sit in and gain invaluable experience in a non-competitive, supportive environment, this could be the session for you.    
Stuart Finden (tenor saxophone & guitar), Fiona Finden (tenor saxophone & vocals), John Rowland (tenor saxophone), Kay Usher (violin), Tom Lapworth (guitar), Fardin Esfandiari (guitar), Graham Morris (guitar), Keith Barrett (guitar), Minnie Fraser (vocals), Julie Allen (vocals), Ann Alex (vocals), Andrew  Porritt (double bass), Ray Truscott (electric bass) & Andy McClellan (drums)
Russell.
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1 comment :

Lance said...

I must apologise to Russell and the participants at the jam for the delayed posting of his review. This was due to problems with my PC which have hopefully been resolved.
Similar apologies to those who have sent me a mountain of CDs for review - these may take a little longer!

Friday, February 27, 2015 8:09:00 am

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