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

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.

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

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Remembering Tony Hall (1928-2019)

I feel a lot of sadness at the death of record producer/journalist and many other things, Tony Hall. aged 91.

Back in my teenage years when I lived in London for awhile most of my leisure time was spent hanging out at the 100 Club on Oxford St., or the Flamingo Club on Wardour St. It was at this latter venue which, in the days before Ronnie's, was the premier modern jazz club in London. All the top British names played there including the Jazz Couriers, Eddie Thompson (with his guide dog Max sleeping under the piano), Don Rendell and, on one memorable occasion, Carmen McRae with Don Abney on piano.

Tony Hall was the compere on most evenings, a role he carried out with authority and humour - as cool a dude as anyone on the scene at that time.

I remember an occasion when someone asked him who was playing at the club on the following night. He looked puzzled before saying, "Haven't got a clue - is there a Melody Maker in the house?"

Tony also produced and wrote the sleeve notes for the old Tempo label which featured many of the above names.

He later moved on to greater things but, for me, he'll always be the tall young man who made those Flamingo sessions so enjoyable.

Tony Hall passed away on June 26, 2019.
Sadly missed.
Lance.

7 comments :

Harry said...

Hi Lance,

Sorry to read of Tony Hall's passing. He was a shining light pushing local jazz and jazz musicians in those early days. I don't think there are many of us left who still remember the great sessions at The Flamingo and the 100 Club.

Best regards

Harry Monty

Lance said...

Yes, those were the days Harry - who knows, we may have been at the same gigs or had a pint at the pub opposite the Flamingo, or the one around the corner from the 100 Club! I'd love to hear more of your memories from those halcyon days.

Harry said...

Hi Lance,

Many a memorable night at the Flamingo with many of the top names appearing - some I can still remember are the Ronnie Scott nine piece, The Jazz Couriers with Ronnie and Tubby, The Johnny Dankworth Orchestra with Cleo Laine - spine tingling session, the Jazz Makers with Alan Ganley and Ronnie Ross, the Jazz Five with Vic Ash and Harry Klein, the Tony Kinsey group with Joe Harriott and of course, as you mentioned, Eddie Thompson and his dog Max. At the 100 Club one fantastic night was Humph and his band with Tony Coe and Joe Temperley and featuring Jimmy Rushing.
Another club I went on a couple of occasions was the Blue Lagoon which was in a basement in Carnaby Street (before it became famous). On the second occasion Helen Merrill was appearing with Dill Jones (I think), Spike Heatley and John Marshall, when who should come into the club but Dinah Washington with her pianist, Beryl Booker. Helen invited them up and Dinah then started to sing and literally brought the house down. What a night!!!

That's all for now.

Best regards

Harry

Lance said...

1959 - the Woody Herman Anglo-American Herd at the Royal Festival Hall. An all British sax section (apart from Woody).Johnny Scott, Don Rendell, Art Ellefson, Ronnie Ross. Trumpets: Bert Courtly, Les Condon, Kenny Wheeler + Nat Adderley Reunald Jones. Trombones: Eddie Harvey, Ken Wray + the great Bill Harris. An all-American rhythm section: Charlie Byrd (guitar), Vince Guaraldi (piano), Keeter Betts (bass), Jimmy Campbell (drums). the British guys (ok I know that 2 were Canadian) more than held their own.

I envy you seeing Helen Merrill and Dinah Washington on the same night!

Harry said...

Hi Lance,

Yes that was a triumph of collaboration between American,Canadian and British musicians - I don't think I saw them at the Royal Festival Hall but probably saw them at the Odeon Hammersmith. I understand it was Ronnie Ross who organised the British contingent. Great memories.

Best regards

Harry

Lance said...

That is amazing, I too thought I'd saw them at Hammersmith! However, I still have the programme and when I checked it was deffo RFH. The tour finished at the Granada cinemas in Tooting and Walthamstow. I did see JATP at Hammersmith.

Incidentally, the programme has an advert for the Marquee Club featuring all the usual suspects plus Michael Garrick. This was before it moved into blues and rock 'n' roll.

Cost 4 bob to get into the club - 5p in new money to see Tubby Hayes!

Lance said...

Whoops! Got my maths wrong - 20p, still a bargain at any price to hear Tubbs...

Blog Archive