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.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Hot Sardines @ Sage Gateshead - May 18

Miz Elizabeth (vcl/washboard); Evan 'Bibs' Palazzo (pno); Jason Prover (tpt/vcl);  Nick Myers (ten/clt); Joe McDonough (valve tmb/tpt); Evan 'Sugar' Crane (bs); Alex Raderman (dms); Fast Eddie Francesco (hoofer/uke).
(Review by Lance).
I knew it would be good but - never in a million years did I think it would be this good! Wonderful is the best I've managed to come up with but it's nowhere near. Perhaps Cole Porter, who was never far away tonight could do better - Napoleon Brandy, Mahatma Gandhi will do for starters!
This was the 1920s/30s done to perfection but with the feel of today. If you've heard Marty Grosz or Vince Giordano then you'll know which ballpark we're in.
Miz Elizabeth doing the vocals has the longest legs I've ever seen! If, in the unlikely scenario I got into a clinch with her, her lips would be only slightly closer than the moon (anyone got a rocketship timetable?) Voicewise she did the business good and engaged the three tier full Hall Two audience with much charm and wit comparing Newcastle and Gateshead to New York and New Jersey.
To describe the highlights would be a task beyond anyone. Even Dostoevsky, who was known to go on a bit, would have failed to capture the evening in less than 3 volumes. So, I can but say we had some Bixian trumpet, Brad Gowans on valve trombone (with just a hint of Brookmeyer), BG on gobbo and maybe early Hawk on tenor. Fats on piano, Pops on bass and Wettling/Krupa/Tough on kit.
Oh yes then there was Fast Eddie. Eddie tapped his way through most numbers - apart from when he was playing uke - and prompted the thought - if you can't get a drummer for your gig - hire a hoofer!
The ovation at the end of the non-stop two hour set was off the standing variety. Those who didn't stand stamped their feet and whistled and woo-hooed. Gig of the century - any century! three hours later I'm just coming down to earth.
Lance.
at

1 comment :

Patti D. said...

It was one of those to remember - red hot swinging 20's to 30's jazz performed by musicians at the top of their game, and presented in a lively, vibrant show that had us all begging for more!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:34:00 am

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive