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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

CD Review: Hot Jazz Jumpers - The Very Next Thing

(Review by Lance.)
The music here is of such an eclectic mix that I wonder if there is an audience out there capable of being empathetic to the variety of styles and modes/moods on this CD/DVD. It's trad, skiffle, gospel, funk, hip-hop, bossa and probably a few other genres too!
Indiana - more or less, straight Dixie. Freight Train - updated skiffle. Caravan - Duke, Tizol and co turning in their graves. You Are My Sunshine - a little cloudy. Nobody But My Baby - Hershey, best bar none. In a Mellow Tone - Duke's stopped turning, maybe even loves this madly. Griffith's vocal brings Jon Hendricks to mind. 
Jock-A-Mo -  a calypso sort of thing with with Hershey "Iko Iko-ing".
Dirty40, a Nick Russo original, Chicago blues meets?  Sweet Georgia Brown - Hershey w. Russo on banjo is a must for those folk who love vocals accompanied by banjo and traps.
Manha de Carnival - Griff and Nick (back on guitar) give an interesting, and enjoyable, take on this one, Jam For Lenny features Josh Holcombe on trombone. Could this be the guy who played with King Bee and the Hot Sardines? Jason? Josh? could be - answers on a fifty dollar bill.
Ain't Misbehavin' - Betina in fine voice.
I've Got my Mojo Workin' - Betina and Miles - the mojos workin'.  When the Red Red Robin gets back to the Dixieland with trumpet, clarinet, banjo, bass and drums goosing Betina (musically).
This Little Light of Mine didn't shine for me. More Jock-A-Mo then Nick Russo and Griffith in 5:07 mins of Free Improv which may not grab them 'as liked Indiana!
Michael Steinman of Jazz Lives says, "their range of repertoire is delightful broad, brave, and the results are compelling".
Michael, if you are at Whitley Bay this year, we need to talk!
Lance.
Nick Russo (gtr/bjo etc.); Betina Hershey (vcl/gtr); Miles Griffith (vcl); David Pleasant (dms/vcl/hca); Essiet Essiet/ Mamdou Ba (bs); Gordon Au (tpt); Josh Holcombe (tmb); Dennis Lichtman (clt); Mike Russo (gtr). (Collective personnel).

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