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

18656 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 520 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 25) 72

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

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 30: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

July

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 02: 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 02: De’Sean Jones & Blaque Dynamite feat. Urban Art Orchestra @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). De’Sean Jones (MD, tenor sax); Blaque Dynamite (Mike Mitchell, drums); Jamie Murray (drums) with UAO horns & strings.
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.
Thu 02: Howlin’ Mat @ Newcastle Arts centre. 7:30pm. Free. Acoustic

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Paul Donnelly Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 03: Martin Taylor @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Taylor (solo guitar).

Sat 04: Spats Langham’s Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Take the ‘A’ Train to Summertime: From Melody to Masterclass. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest TBC.
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Musicians Unlimited @ Dormans Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - February 21

(Review by Ron H.)
The first of this year's "Guest Big Band Nights" featured the award-winning band from Hartlepool led by saxophonist Mick Donnelly.

Playing to a full house, the band began with a nice arrangement of the classic Ja-Da, followed by I Get a Kick Out of You with Paul Skerritt's lively style and fine voice. The Latin rhythm of Orilla Del Mar was perfectly set up on congas by Ernie Jackson and beautifully played by the band and an excellent solo from Sue Ferris on tenor sax.

A beautiful vocal from Jan Spencelayh - My Heart Belongs To Daddy - preceded a swinging version of High Maintenance (great solos from Mark Toomey alto, Bill Watson trumpet and Lady? on baritone sax). Paul sang the ever-popular Georgia on my Mind followed by a new number for the band Sister Sadie that included a nice bass solo from Adrian Beadnell.

Jan returned to sing The Very Thought of You, over a lovely big band arrangement. Sonny Rollins’ Doxy included a fine trombone solo from Neville Hartley. Paul sang Witchcraft before the first half was brought to a close with the Doc Severinsen arrangement of the old Basie signature tune One O' Clock Jump.

 The second set kicked off with one of my favourite blues - Things Ain’t What They Used to Be which had a nice guitar solo from Ian Bosworth and tenor from Sue Ferris.

Further numbers included The Best Is Yet to Come, with vocal by Paul, Clam Chowder and Jan remembering Billie Holiday with her own excellent version That Ole Devil Called Love. 

Mick Donnelly did the intro to Sentimental Journey, on soprano sax and then swapped to tenor for a tremendous up-tempo solo that delighted the crowd.

Other numbers were My Baby Just Cares for me, Paul vocal, the Sammy Nestico arrangement of Jersey Bounce, I Don't Know Why, Jan vocal, and When The Saints Go Marching in, with great solos from Josh Bentham tenor and Bill Watson trumpet.

An up-tempo Misty, finished the second set in style with Paul's vocal and Sue's great sax playing hitting the spot. The audience demanded an encore - and got it - so the night ended with a rousing Sweet Georgia Brown.

This was a most memorable night of big band music at its best played to an enthusiastic audience. Many thanks go to the great musicians in the band (sorry I didn't get all the names) and to Mick for his leadership and amusing comments.

Thanks also to Tony White for looking after the sound system and to Dormans Club for their support with the Jazz Club.
Ron H.
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