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

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

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.

Friday, June 05, 2015

Ashington Jazz Club Celebrating Thirty Years Of Wonderful Music.

James Harrison (keyboard), Anthony Ord (bass), Tom Chapman (drums) and  Ray Dales (alto saxophone). (Review/photo by Peter S).
Ashington Jazz club was born in June of 1985 when a group of enthusiasts decided to meet on a monthly basis to listen to the music we love and so the dream began at the North Seaton Hotel now known as the Elephant.  No one could have believed then that 30 years on the Club would still be attracting great musicians to the town. To celebrate the achievement John Taylor suggested a mini Jazz Festival at locations across the town. With support from Ashington Council and with the direction and drive from John the Festival became a reality.
It was appropriate to arrange the first event at the AJC on the regular first Wednesday of the month of June. The James Harrison Trio accepted the invitation and introduced Saxophonist Ray Dales on his first visit. Never let it be said that in Jazz Music there is a shortage of respect among the young for the older generation of musicians. Throughout the development of the music there have been many small groups who have made an everlasting mark in influencing styles and tastes. To name but a few the small Goodman groups, Brubeck, M.J.Q., Shearing, Peterson, Manhatten Transfer and Davis all inspired positive responses from the listening public. There are many more we admire and applaud.
The James Harrison Trio – a collective of very young musicians have formed a good working relationship with Ray, 50+ years older and a blend of music like rum and coke. The respect for each other is evident and the joy of working together produced an exciting musical evening for all.  The quartet exploded onto our stage attacking the music with a grand opening tune. From that moment onwards the experience reverberated throughout the evening with excitement, crescendos and amazing improvisations. The participation of all the musicians in the most technical and lyrical compositions was breath taking. The energy and joy of performance was written on their faces and on behalf of AJC I applaud your contribution to a memorable evening for our CLUB.
Music – Secret Love, Summer Samba (so nice), There’ll Never be Another you, My Foolish Heart, Four, Sunny, That’s All, Misty, Our Day Will Come, Southern Samba, Blue Monk, St. Thomas, Cherokee.
Peter S.
Next Meeting Wednesday July 1st. At 8.00 p.m.   See you there.   

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