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

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.

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.

Monday, December 17, 2018

SSBB - Christmas @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Saturday, Dec. 15

(Review by Russell)

Storm Deirdre did its best/worst to disrupt the second of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's two sold-out Christmas shows.  A couple of centimetres of snow is often sufficient to see Tyneside in a state of gridlock but the SSBB's followers weren't to be deterred.

Gosforth Civic Theatre buzzed with excitement as the eight o'clock start approached. First impressions...the venue has a new, recently acquired Yamaha upright piano - good! The stage was festooned with microphones (the concert performance was to be recorded - good!) and, as band singer Alice Grace sang the first of several numbers - Fascinating Rhythm - it was obvious that a first-rate mic/PA system was at her (and F'reez's) disposal - good! A superb vocalist, as Alice is, deserves to be heard properly in front of a big band. 

Jingle Bells the opener - well, it is nearly Christmas - set the festive tone and musical standard (A*). Evenin' sang F'reez. Yes, a grand evening was in store. April in Paris Basie-style...One more time, one more. This the SSBB - what a band! 



This blog - BSH - has frequently sung the praises of Alice Grace and a knock out version of Time After Time confirmed our adopted Geordie as one of the great vocalists on today's scene. Polly Gibbons' Midnight Prayer offered further evidence of AG's credentials, this time with a hitherto unheard soulful dimension to her voice.

Last Christmas sang F'reez and Alice. It's futile trying to resist, go with the flow, GCT's audience was in unstoppable party mode. The Christmas Song (chestnuts etc) brought the evening to a close. Michael Lamb's big band is some outfit! Professional to the last, section work exemplary, those sections bulging with soloists, some of them taking their turn in the spotlight. The rhythm boys - Pav Jedrzejewski, guitar, Graham Don, piano, Michael Whent, bass guitar and drummer Guy Swinton - is as fine an engine room as you'll find. Top it all off with double whipped cream in the shape of Alice and F'reez and you've got yourself one of the best big bands around.

The sell-out success of the SSBB's Christmas shows is such that tickets for next year's concerts - Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December - are on sale now. Don't delay, visit the band's website and book your tickets now. That's one of 2019’s Christmas presents sorted!

Russell.

 Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets); John Flood Kieran Parnaby, Chris Gray, Mark Ferris (trombones); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie Toms, Matt Forster, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Graham Don (piano); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton ((drums); Alice Grace, F'reez (vocals).
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