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).

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Farewell to Glen Campbell and Barbara Cook.














The lights will be dimmed in Nashville and on Broadway tonight in tribute to the passing of two legends from two very different genres who both died yesterday (August 8)
Glen Campbell is best remembered for his hits from the 1970's that included Wichita Lineman, Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix and Rhinestone Cowboy. Country songs that were as comfortable in the pop charts of the day as they were on Grand Ol' Opry. As well as being a fine country singer, Campbell was no mean guitarist - you had to be in Nashville - and he played guitar on Sinatra's Strangers in the Night. Like yesterday's other departure, Campbell also struggled with alcohol (and drug) problems but he overcame them and they haven't tarnished his memory.
That memory was kept alive at this year's SummerTyne Americana, held, as always, at Sage Gateshead where Glen's youngest daughter Ashley Campbell and her band played a support set to Merle Haggard's Strangers. Reading Ann Alex's write-up, I got the impression the billing should have been reversed. Ashley, reported Ann, commented on her dad's Alzheimer's before singing Gentle on my Mind. Now, 17 days later he's gone - he was 81.
Rest In Peace.  
Barbara Cook was another legend who passed away yesterday and, like Campbell, had an alcohol affected career. A Broadway star in the 1950's receiving a Tony award for her role in The Music Man
she appeared in many more Broadways smashes as well playing straight roles on television. A critic wrote of her, many years later: "The world is usually divided into actresses who try to sing and singers who try to act. Cook is one of the few performers who manage to combine the best of both traditions."
It looked like her career was over when the alcohol took hold and binge eating caused her to become obese. However, after befriending composer and pianist Wally Harper he persuaded her to put on a concert at Carnegie Hall. This was so successful they did another (of which I have the CD) and the rest is history. The second concert was predominantly the songs of Stephen Sondheim and, from then on she became synonymous with his work.
A Broadway legend who will be sadly missed.
Barbara Cook was 89.
Lance
Vanilla Ice Cream (see comment by Liz)
at

2 comments :

Liz said...

I loved Barbara Cook. I saw her live many years ago, it was either at the Donmar or the Menier Chocolate factory in London. Both are ideal venues for her type of intimate revue. It was just her & Wally Harper, her accompanist. I was enthralled by her singing and acting. The one song with which I associate her is "Ice cream, Vanilla ice cream" it is from a show called " She Loves Me" which has since been reprised many times. This show, with which she took the lead in the far off Soubrette days, belongs to her, and her only. Such a talent! RIP wonderful lady!

Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:36:00 pm
Steve T said...

Campbell is the only male c+w singer I've come across who I have any time for. His final album, knowingly and poignantly titled 'Adios', has a CD of hits and one of new stuff.
'Rhinestone Cowboy' is a perfect popsong to rival 'Dancing Queen'. I played it for an elderly neighbour and his face lit up; 'they don't make em like this any more' I observed, 'in fact they'll probably never make them like this again'.
As a soul fan, Isaac Hayes' 19 min version of 'By the time I get to Pheonix' is supposed to be the ultimate version, but I confess to preferring Campbells, though William Bell, who plays it straight, has the definitive version.
The other track that interested me was 'Gentle on my Mind', by far and away the best track I've ever heard by Maddy Peyroux. I knew his version immediately but hadn't connected them as hers is a spine-tingling ballad while his is a an upbeat, uptempo romp.
Haven't heard the new stuff yet but there's a version of Willie Nelsons 'Funny How Time Slips Away' which I can't believe he hasn't already recorded, and is always worth a listen.
Yip, he was one of the good guys and, as Lance observed, a serious guitarist.

Sunday, August 13, 2017 8:22:00 pm

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