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

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.

Thu 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 04: Postmodern Jukebox @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Thu 04: 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 04: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 05: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 05: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 05-Thu 11: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne. Screenings TBC.
Fri 05: Pete Tanton & Alan Law @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 05: House of the Black Gardenia: Summer Tyne Swing Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £130.00; £95.00; £70.00; £50.00. Note: all day dance event (classes & socials). House of the Black Gardenia evening performance. Day 1/3.
Fri 05: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band + IKS Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £24.00. Big band double bill. IKS Big Band (Germany).
Fri 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00

Sat 06: Struggle Buggy @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 06: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 06: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Dry Water Arts, Amble. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £15.00.
Sat 06: IKS Big Band: Summer Tyne Swing Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £130.00; £95.00; £70.00; £50.00. Note: all day dance event (classes & socials). IKS Big Band evening performance. Day 2/3.
Sat 06: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Northumbrian Revival, West Benridge Farm, nr. Morpeth NE61 3RZ. 7:30-9:30pm. £21.47 (£2.77. child). 82nd D-Day anniversary event.
Sat 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 06: FILM: The Magic City: Birmingham According to Sun Ra @ The Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 9:30pm. £7.00., £5.00. Dir. Guillaume Maupin & Pablo Guarise.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Get on the Mainline to Darlington Jazz Festival

(Preview by Russell).
The fourth annual Darlington Jazz Festival returns this week (Thursday 23-Sunday 26 April) with a new look and a fantastic line-up! The festival launches the borough-wide Darlington Arts Festival running throughout May. Jazz fans will be spoilt for choice at various venues across the town centre. Concerts, jam sessions, street performances – it makes for a busy, memorable long weekend.
The Jazz Festival kicks-off with a workshop on Thursday evening at Crown Street Art Gallery and Library. Star trumpeter and jazz educator Matt Roberts returns to his home town to lead the event beginning at six o’clock. All abilities are encouraged to attend (Roberts will engage with everyone, rested assured) and at £6.00. it may well be the best six quid you’ll ever spend. Places are limited (Roberts’ popularity guarantees a large uptake), to check availability visit: www.darlingtonjazzfestival@live.com.
The Matt Roberts’ Sextet will set the performance standard in a Jazz After Dark concert  on Friday night at the Voodoo Café on Skinnergate (opposite Binns’ department store). Roberts will be playing the music of Fats Navarro. He is bringing in a superb band with Matt Anderson on tenor. Eagerly anticipated, this could be the gig that gets somewhere near capturing the levels of excitement generated by the Cookers’ triumphant appearance at last week’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival. On stage at 9:00pm (doors 8:30pm), get there early. Admission on the door is £7.00. Start queuing now!
Saturday (25th) offers something for everyone. Darlington Jazz Festival presents Coffee House Jazz at Clervaux Bakery. Early birds can get along to Darlington’s artisan bakery on Coniscliffe Road to hear jazz throughout the day and partake of a menu offering the most tempting of culinary delights. Jazz Comes to the Quakerhouse begins at one o’clock in the Camra-rated public house in Mechanics’ Yard. Not only does jazz come to the pub for the festival, it is to be one of the principal new homes of Darlington Jazz Club. This festival offering (1:00pm, £5.00.) includes the superb pianist Dean Stockdale, local lad Will Howard blowing up a storm and the fabulous Zoe Gilby accompanied by first call guitarist Mark Williams. In the Dolphin Centre’s Central Hall at seven o’clock there is a set-piece occasion. The award-winning Durham Alumni Big Band will be in concert with two award-winning soloists of international standing. Multi instrumentalist Al Wood and Bruce Adams will join the band in an evening of big band swing. Billy May, Basie and others will be in the pad. Listen out for trumpeter Tom Hill playing Memories of You alongside Adams. The Durham County Youth Big Band will feature in a support set. The young musicians on the stand will, no doubt, graduate to the senior ranks. A grand night is in store. Tickets (£10.00.) are available from the Dolphin Centre on Bull Wynd. A late night in Darlington isn’t a bad idea – head from the Dolphin Centre to the Quakerhouse (two minutes’ walk) for a Late Night Jam starting at ten thirty. Admission is free although donations would be appreciated.
Sunday (26th), the final day of the Darlington Jazz Festival. An Afternoon of Big Bands and Jazz Combos at St Augustine’s Parish Centre (Larchfield Street) features two big bands and a compact touring trio. The mighty Darlington Big Band will hold court and the juniors - Darlington Little Big Band - will have their turn in the spotlight. By way of contrast, bassist/vocalist Nicola Farnon performs with regular collaborators Piero Tucci (keyboards, saxophones and accordion) and drummer Phil Johnson. Starting at 2:00pm, admission is £6.00. The closing event of this year’s Darlington Jazz Festival will be at the same venue on Larchfield Street beginning at half past five. Presented by Darlington Jazz Club, the Simon Read Octet will guarantee a fantastic finale. Bassist Read will have Sam Gardner (drums) alongside, the piano stool will be occupied by the brilliant Jamil Sheriff and rising star trumpeter Laura Jurd should draw the crowds. Admission £6.00. Why not take advantage of a £10.00. ticket deal for both concerts at St Augustine’s?
For details of the 2015 Darlington Jazz Festival: darlingtonjazzfestival@live.com       
Russell.
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