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.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

CD Review: Square One – In Motion

Joe Williamson (guitar), Peter Johnstone (piano), David Bowden (bass) & Stephen Henderson (drums & percussion)
(Review by Russell)
Four undergraduates met at the Conservatoire of Scotland. They formed a quartet, played some gigs, recorded an EP, and, as recipients of the 2015 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, recorded a debut CD in April 2016. The band is Square One, the album is In Motion. The band’s publicity suggests the music embraces variously ECM Euro-cool, folk, fusion and, of course, jazz.
Ten tracks, all of which are group compositions, span precisely sixty minutes. Beginning with the title track – Square One – keeps things simple, saying to the listener: This is who we are. Joe Williamson, guitar, Peter Johnstone, piano, David Bowden (double bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums) have rapidly developed a collective identity; strong, melodic compositions negotiated with impressive, mature musicianship.

A shimmering, yet taut Full Circle is the sound of jazz today. Bowden and Henderson are assured navigators of the developing joyous melody. Bowden’s resonant strings-on-wood double bass playing on Eastern Ballad is expertly recorded by engineer Stuart Hamilton. Quicksand and Quicksand – Part 2 feature Williamson’s urgent, flowing lines, quelled by Johnstone’s Part 2 calming influence. Bowden’s bass features on 12 with a suggestion of Milestones underpinning the tune.
Crawler is a standout track for at least two reasons: a wonderful, sprawling blues number with Williamson’s down-in-the-hole solo punctuated by Johnstone’s descending patterns, and, it is (successfully) atypical of the album as a whole. In Motion succeeds in the fusing of folk melody with jazz improvisation. Recorded at Castlesound Studios in Pencaitland, the album is Square One’s calling card. Released on 4 October, In Motion is a thoroughly recommended purchase. Square One embark upon a European tour at the Spotted Dog in Birmingham on 4 October. Three dates in Poland follow (including Theatre in the Castle, Przemsyl, 23 October), then there is a home turf gig at the Hug and Pint in Glasgow and a London date at the Vortex on 29 November.                                                                             
Russell.
In Motion (SQ1CD1601) is available on the quartet's bandcamp page.
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