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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 2025).

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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Hughie Aitchison – A Tyneside Jazz Trumpet Player

(Review by Russell)
This new CD release is essential listening for anyone with an interest in the history of the Tyneside jazz scene. In due course an informed commentary will, no doubt, be posted by the editor of Bebop Spoken Here. This posting simply serves to flag up the very existence of these recordings made between 1950 - 1983. The focus is on bandleader, trumpeter and trombonist Hughie Aitchison. A hugely respected figure on the scene, Mr Aitchison can be heard in a variety of combos: Stan Wilde and the Wild Cats recorded at Durham Jazz Club in 1950; a Northern Sound Services studio recording with the Bernicia Jazz Band; a 1979 Saratoga Jazzmen session from the Corner House; The High Point Hotel All Stars from 1983.
The cast list contains many familiar names, some deserving of the tag ‘legendary’, some unquestionably influential in the development of post-war jazz in the region. The venues and recording studios may have gone, so too the musicians heard on this recording, what does remain, however, is the music, recorded and preserved either by chance or by design.
Hughie Aitchison’s son, ex-pat trumpet player Colin, is the man responsible for this CD project. The quality of the recordings is variable – this is to be expected given the vintage of these tracks and the circumstances in which they were recorded. The quality of the musicianship shines through with the individual sound of some of the musicians readily identifiable. Franco Valussi, musician, and Steve James of RTHK Radio Hong Kong, provided invaluable assistance to Aitchison in the making of this CD.
Russell.
Hughie Aitchison (trumpet & trombone), Peter Gascoigne (trumpet & vocals), Fred Rowe (trumpet & cornet); Steve Andrews (clarinet & tenor saxophone),Trevor Johnson (clarinet), Stan Martin (clarinet), Bill Smith (clarinet), Alan Shipley (clarinet); Martin Simon (tenor saxophone), Brian Clark (alto saxophone & clarinet), Jimmy Ruddick (alto saxophone); Ronnie Allen (trombone), Nick Downing (trombone), Ronnie McLean (trombone), Ted Reynolds (trombone), Gordon Solomon (trombone); George Brewis (piano), Brian Fisher (piano), Arthur Robson (piano), Norman Rudd (piano), Howard Swanson (piano), Stan Wilde (piano);  Alan Brown (guitar), Eric Gamblin (guitar), Brian Sibbald (guitar), Roly Veitch (guitar), Billy Waugh (guitar), Roy Willis (guitar); Clem Avery (bass), Ian Heslop (bass), Ray Jobling (bass), George Johnson (bass), Bill Jones (bass), Dougie Richardson (bass), Alan Rudd (bass), Dave Swan (bass); Billy Calboutin (drums), Paul Erwin (drums), Ian Forbes (drums), Eddie Jedsop (drums), Gordon Prudham (drums), Ken Redman (drums), Marshall Walker (drums), Joe Ward (drums); Frank Wappat? (vocals)          

1 comment :

CCJAZZMEN said...

Thanks Lance & Russell.

I still have a few left so If anyone would still like a CD you can contact me at tynesidejazztrumpetplayer@gmail.com

Regards
Colin Aitchison

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