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

18585 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 449 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 31) 103

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

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: Webster’s Ragtime Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £17.00. Trio from Texas, USA.
Thu 04: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues excellence!
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.

Sun 07: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 07: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Steve Walker (trumpet).
Sun 07: Joe Steels: Celebrating Wes @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Trio: Joe Steels, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Sun 07: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Eddie Gripper Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.
Sun 07: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Magpies of Swing: Summer Tyne Swing Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £130.00; £95.00; £70.00; £50.00. Note: all day dance event (classes & socials). Magpies of Swing afternoon performance. Day 3/3.
Sun 07: Webster’s Ragtime Trio @ The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 7:00pm. £12.50. Trio from Texas, USA.
Sun 07: Salty Dog @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm. £5.00. Performance in the Studio venue.
Sun 07: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Riding Mill Village Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 07: Swing Manouche @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Feat. Steve McGarvie (clarinet).

Mon 08: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 08: Dave Bristow Quintet @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £22.00., £11.00., £5.50. Bristow (piano); Christian Altehülshorst (trumpet); Félix Hardouin (alto sax); Gabriel Pierre (double bass); Guillaume Prévost (drums).

Monday, May 02, 2016

Where Has Ann Alex Got To?

Readers may have missed me [that's me between Sarah Travena and Ian Shaw - Claire Kelly far right] from BSH in recent weeks (or not?) so I thought I’d better explain my absence. I’ve been struck down with what one doctor called an ‘Angry Gallstone’ and I’ve spent a week in hospital, to which I’m returning within the month, for removal of my gall bladder.  This meant that I missed the GIJF and also loads of good things at the Globe. 
However I’ve managed to keep Body And Soul together and I Ain’t Misbehavin’, as I eat very low fat just now. All of Me occasionally aches, so I Don’t Get Around Much Any More, and each morning I say to myself Lady Be Good. It’s not a bad as having a Fever. I’d go out more but we’ve had some Stormy Weather lately. I’m looking  forward to the time after the operation when there’ll be No More Blues and I’ll declare that  It’s Alright With Me.
Amazing what you can do with song titles. I’d love other readers to come up with even better examples.
Ann Alex

9 comments :

The LondonJazz site said...

Straighten Up and Fly Right. All the best for a speedy and complete recovery. Seb

Lance said...

I bumped into "My Old Flame" "On the Street Where You Live". I asked her, "What's New?" She said, "I'm Getting Married in the Morning". I said, "Congratulations" then decided I must "Take the A Train". I got off at Lonely St. and headed for "Heartbreak Hotel"

Liz said...

After your operation, it'll be "So nice to come home to , so nice by the fire"...

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex, Thanks so much Seb for the good wishes. I love that song title, I suppose it comes from WW2, a message to pilots. And Lance, I hope that's not the story of your life!

Anonymous said...

I think Straighten Up and Fly Right is about kicking the habit!

Facebook comments said...

Jude Murphy Get well soon, Ann x
Like · Reply · 11 hrs
Emma Fisk
Emma Fisk Hope you'll be back on The Sunny Side of the Street very soon Ann!x
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Patti Durham
Patti Durham Oh yes ..... and Let the Sunshine In - tomorrow, anyway. You'll soon be Bouncing Around! xx
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Eric Mckenzie Stutt
Eric Mckenzie Stutt Chin up Chuck!! x
Like · Reply · 10 hrs
Mary Bollands
Mary Bollands · Friends with Kath Jobes and 2 others
Sorry to hear that Ann. You must have been Bewitched,bothered and bewildered! Get well soon xx
Like · Reply · 9 hrs
CiCi Sparks
CiCi Sparks Get well soon Ann. But you know that Sarah Travena not Claire Martin right? Unless you're referring to me then I WISH I was Claire Martin haha. Sending healing vibes.
Like · Reply · 2 hrs
Lance Liddle
Lance Liddle That was my fault - I should have went to Specsavers!
Like · Reply · Just now

Liz said...

Ann as "Spring will be a little late this year," when you get back home it's sure to be "Summertime"

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex. Thanks to all of you for the good wishes and the fun of the song titles!

Russell said...

Are you going to St James Infirmary? It could be The Last Dance, one thing is for sure, There’ll Never Be Another You (phew!). On your return to the folk/jazz scene you could quote Oscar Brown Jnr - Excuse Me For Livin’ and suggest Somebody Buy Me a Drink. That’s assuming it isn’t a case of After You’ve Gone!

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