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

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 Kevin Eland (trumpet).
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.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 07: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, April 07, 2019

Best Wishes to Dave Weisser.

Sad to report that the iconic modern jazz cornetist/vocalist Dave Weisser has been hospitalised after a fall. Dave and Jude were in a Durham bookstore where Dave missed his footing causing some quadricep damage. His leg is in plaster. 

Dave, whose Take it to the Bridge workshops are now part of northeast jazz-lore, has long been an inspirational figure for aspiring jazz musicians, encouraging everyone who takes part in his long-running Wednesday night sessions currently held at the Globe, Newcastle. Many of the region's big-hitters dipped their toes in the water there or at previous venues such as the Chilli on Chilli Rd. He is a legend and always will be.

Sincere best wishes and may he recover from this latest setback asap.
Lance.

14 comments :

Pam & Dave (on F/b) said...

Aww best wishes Dave for a speedy recovery Pam and Dave Clarke x

Jude Murphy (on F/b) said...

I'll pass on your best wishes tomorrow Lance.
Meanwhile, I have to tell you this as it's such a typically Dave response even while in severe pain.
His first thought after he missed that damn step was to locate the biography of Trane that he'd dropped in the process!

Chris Barker said...

I remember Dave from my days in JG Windows in the late 70s. My enduring memory of him was asking me if I had any araldite cos his crown had come out and he wanted to glue it back in! (it worked too)

Russell said...

Good on yer Dave, the Trane biography is more important than a mere leg injury!

Roly said...

Very sorry to hear of this Dave. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Best wishes
Roly

Lance said...

Must have been Giant Steps where he fell.

Unknown said...

Get well soon Dave, all the way from Japan! You don't need your leg to play trumpet though, so no excuses!

Lance said...

See also my Facebook page for more comments - https://www.facebook.com/lance.liddle

Norman said...

Hi Dave it should be me tripping up steps not you but thanks for taking my turn! Hope you are up and about soon
Norman

Anonymous said...

From Ann Alex, Dave, you are always so encouraging to me with my singing, best wishes for better health soon, love, Ann

berti said...

Get well soon Dave.....you were a miss at Keith's plaque unveiling last Sunday.

Patti said...

And very best wishes for a tolerably pain free rehab, Dave - from Trumpet Towers in West Jesmond. Patti xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Dave Sorry to hear of your fall. I know what you are going through as I broke my leg and needed a complete HIP re -placement Get well soon.

Kindest regards Raymond Newton Double Bass /Cello Bass Guitar player.

Simonne15 said...

As so many of the posts above are now a couple of years old I thought it worth saying...... Its great to see Dave Weisser getting to the Globe each Wednesday, enjoying other people making music with Jude's encouragement and bringing in new players each week as Dave always has done. For example we have all enjoyed Laura's amazing contribution and are in awe of her youthful skill.
What a wonderful regular group who also encourage new talent - and Dave still sings us the odd verse in his inimitable way.

Mike & Pauline

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