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

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.

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

Friday, February 26, 2016

SNOWBOY celebrates his 30th anniversary, since his debut single in 1985, with his 16th album NEW YORK AFTERNOON'.

Snowboy (conguero) Sid Gauld (Trumpet), Paul Taylor (Trombone), Neil Angilley (Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes), Nico Gomez (Bass), Davide Giovannini (Drums, Timbales and Vocals) and Dave Pattman (Bongos) + Marc Evans.
(Press release)
One of Europe’s finest percussionists and Congueros, Snowboy. has recorded or performed percussion with artists such as Lisa Stansfield, JTQ, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Deodato, Jon Lucien, Big John Patton, Airto Moreira, Herman Olivera and many, many more. More importantly, Snowboy is also the leader of Europe's leading Afro-Cuban Jazz group, Snowboy & The Latin Section, featuring the UK's most exciting and pyrotechnical jazz and Latin players: . 'New York Afternoon' features every one of them as always. But that's not all, Snowboy is also an in-demand DJ and a regular at the likes of the South London Soul Train’s bi-monthly sessions.
New York Afternoon is classic Snowboy drawing on jazz dance classics, salsa and mambo in a dynamic new recording which captures the block party feel of 1970s Latin jazz and early salsa. The all-important trademark Snowboy mambo style is present with an authentic cover of the Edmundo Ros classic 'Olé Mambo' and the original 'La Época Del Palladium'. The great influence of his mentor and friend, Eddie Palmieri, on the long, mean, dark and tense, 'The Triple Bluff' is there too. There is the epic and grandiose solo keyboard piece 'Cala Escarpada' by Neil Angilley and two heavy Salsa songs 'Tres Tambores' and 'Echalo Ya'. The distinctive vocals of Davide Giovannini are prominent throughout the album.
The album also features some very special guests, including the legendary House music vocalist, Marc Evans, from Baltimore on the title track a cover of the legendary Richie Cole and Eddie Jefferson “Jazz Dance” classic ’New York Afternoon’. 'Better' and 'Oxen Free' feature, and are written by, the incredible Boston-based jazz singer-songwriter Jen Kearney. The final guest is the experimental saxophonist, Pete Wareham, from Acoustic Ladyland, Polar Bear and Melt Yourself Down. Snowboy's long-time Saxophonist, Gary Plumley, was on sabbatical in India, so he asked Pete. Snowboy is a huge fan of his wild and uncompromising Free Jazz style and  Wareham’s unique style certainly brings something different to the album.
Not only is this Snowboy's 16th album, but after recording for over 30 years, New York Afternoon is his most unique and ambitious one yet.
www.snowboy.info
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(Editor): Latin Jazz is on the march - or should that be the conga? Whatever, music from the Carribean and all points nearby is on a roll. My intent last night. had been to dig the Cuban jam at the Jazz Café. Circumstances prevented that so, instead, I got my Daiquiri fix listening to Snowboy.
Check him out - this CD is merely sencasional!
Lance.

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