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

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

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 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 18: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 19: Joe Steels Group @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 19: Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £14.33., £11.16., £8.00.
Fri 19: Martin Litton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 (inc. bf); £6.50 (inc. bf); £15.00 on the door. Solo piano. CANCELLED!
Fri 19: Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Joe Webb support set.
Fri 19: Hot Club du Nord @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Jive Aces: The Roots of Rock & Roll @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00 + bf.

Sat 20: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge. 5:00-6:00pm.
Sat 20: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 20: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Trinity Church, Gosforth, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. NCRO w. guests Dean Stockdale & Nick Ward.

Sun 21: From Lagos to Longbenton: Unity in the Community @ Sunderland Minster. From 1:30pm. Free. A multi-bill Unity in the Community event, inc. From Lagos to Longbenton.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio w. Graham Hardy.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 22: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 23: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Dec 14

(Review by Russell)

I refer the Rt.Hon. Reader to my previous review (Dec 13)! Friday evening's first night performance couldn't have gone better and this second sold out night more than lived up to the highest of standards set twenty four hours earlier. The Strictly Smokin' Big Band is on a roll with sell out shows here, there and everywhere. Michael Lamb's supercharged outfit is the band of the moment.

Winter Games (Winter Olympics 1988) once again opened the programme and for the next couple of hours or so this Saturday evening show entertained big style. 

Alice Grace emerged from the wings to reprise The Late, Late Show then departed, albeit briefly, leaving the stage to Keith Robinson. Alto saxophonist Robinson is an admirer of ex-Jazz Messenger Bobby Watson's compositions and here at Gosforth Civic Theatre chose to play Watson's Free Yourself. The audience reaction spoke volumes as Robinson (and Watson!) received tumultuous applause. Those wanting to hear more of Robinson should check out Alter Ego the next time the band hits the road. 

Time once more for Ms Grace. Bassist Michael Whent,  assisted by ace big band drummer Guy Swinton, brought in Avalon. Excellent. 

More excellence as Jamie Toms' hypnotic bass clarinet line underpinned our vocalist's impeccable phrasing on a spine-tingling Willow Weep for Me (arr Chris Walden). The next time AG records an album this number should be on it, it's that good!  

Tom Kubis' arrangement of Joy to the World (solos from Pawel Jedrzejewski, guitar, Graham Don, piano) closed a superlative first set.

The second set proved to be one of highlight upon highlight. Coventry Carol (arr Jamey Simmons) impressed again, just as it did the previous evening - some seriously good ensemble jazz on this one. Alice Grace returned to the stage to sing Mel Tormé's classic Christmas Song and then...and then...Adam Dutton joined AG for a showstopping Baby, It's Cold Outside. Dutton's theatrical tenor voice brought out the best in his co-star, Ms Grace. Fabulous entertainment, pure and simple! Dutton hung around for a solo vocal feature - Caroling, Caroling (arr Callum Au) which prompted the thought: In 2020, is Dutton going to be heard on the local jazz scene? 

Duke Ellington's Jingle Bells as an instrumental - excellent, after all this was Ellington! - then for the grand finale. Alice and Adam played their parts to perfection on Fairytale of New York (arr Michael Lamb), knockabout stuff, for sure, pitched just right for the occasion. 

And finally, vocalist Alice Grace conducting orchestra and audience in a wonderful take on Last Christmas. Tickets for the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's 2020 Christmas shows are on sale now and they're already flying out the door. Book now at www:strictly-smokin.co.uk
Russell   

Alice Grace (vocals); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie Toms, Dave Kerridge, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds); Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey, Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Mark Ferris, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Graham Don (piano); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums) + Adam Dutton (vocals).
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