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

18585 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 449 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 31) 103

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

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: Webster’s Ragtime Trio @ The Witham, Barnard Castle. 7:30pm. £17.00. Trio from Texas, USA.
Thu 04: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues excellence!
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

Sat 06: Struggle Buggy @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 06: Teresa Watson Band @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sat 06: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Dry Water Arts, Amble. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £15.00.
Sat 06: IKS Big Band: 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). IKS Big Band evening performance. Day 2/3.
Sat 06: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Northumbrian Revival, West Benridge Farm, nr. Morpeth NE61 3RZ. 7:30-9:30pm. £21.47 (£2.77. child). 82nd D-Day anniversary event.
Sat 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 06: FILM: The Magic City: Birmingham According to Sun Ra @ The Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 9:30pm. £7.00., £5.00. Dir. Guillaume Maupin & Pablo Guarise.

Sun 07: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 07: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Steve Walker (trumpet).
Sun 07: Joe Steels: Celebrating Wes @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Trio: Joe Steels, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Sun 07: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Sun 07: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 07: Eddie Gripper Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Gripper (piano); Clem Saynor (double bass); Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums). Americana album tour.
Sun 07: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 07: Magpies of Swing: Summer Tyne Swing Festival @ Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £130.00; £95.00; £70.00; £50.00. Note: all day dance event (classes & socials). Magpies of Swing afternoon performance. Day 3/3.
Sun 07: Webster’s Ragtime Trio @ The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 7:00pm. £12.50. Trio from Texas, USA.
Sun 07: Salty Dog @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm. £5.00. Performance in the Studio venue.
Sun 07: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Riding Mill Village Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sun 07: Swing Manouche @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Feat. Steve McGarvie (clarinet).

Mon 08: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 08: Dave Bristow Quintet @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £22.00., £11.00., £5.50. Bristow (piano); Christian Altehülshorst (trumpet); Félix Hardouin (alto sax); Gabriel Pierre (double bass); Guillaume Prévost (drums).

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

RIP Dave Rae - Death of a legend

It is with great sadness that I write to tell you that Dave Rae passed away at approximately 8.30 this morning (Feb. 25).

I have lost a musical partner of many years but also the best friend one could hope for.

The North East Jazz scene has lost a major player and standard bearer for true New Orleans music, but mostly a gentleman in every sense of the word.

I would be grateful if you could relay this sad information to the wider Jazz public via your blog.
John Robinson.

19 comments :

Lance said...

Sad news indeed. A great banjo player and, as you say John, a gentleman in every sense of the word. I know he will be sadly missed, not just in New Orleans circles but by everyone who knew him. May he rest in peace.

Funeral details will be announced here as they are finalised. In the meantime our thoughts are with his family and friends.

CCJAZZMEN said...

Such sad news. I really used to look forward to seeing Dave and the band on my trips from Hong Kong.
He was such a warm and lovely person to chat to and so knowledgeable on New Orleans jazz.

A big loss to the jazz scene in the North East.

R.I.P.

Colin Aitchison (Hong Kong)

Alan Rudd said...

Lance, we're really sad to hear about Dave Rae, he was indeed a gentleman and so knowledgeable and passionate about the New Orleans genre.

Unfortunately I have some more bad news. Classic Swing have been using Norman Brown on keyboards recently at the Jesmond Legion gig. However we were sad to hear Norman died recently. His funeral is tomorrow, Thursday, 1pm, at Sunderland Crematorium.

Norman played for many years with Arthur Mowatt's big band at the Park Hotel, and was still playing organ in local clubs. I believe he also taught piano.

Brian Bennett said...

Sadly the end of an era for all those traditional jazz fans and musicians who followed and played with The Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band. RIP Dave

Elizabeth Bacon (on F/b) said...

That's a lovely tribute to Dave by John Robinson . He is going to be dreadfully missed

Phil Smith (on F/b) said...

Sad news. Lovely man.

Russell said...

I always thought of Dave as a very nice man.It seems others think the same. Dave was a classy banjo player and a fine singer of New Orleans and gospel numbers.

Robert Wade (on F/b) said...

So sorry to hear the sad news. Great guy and gentleman of jazz.
Spoke to Mike Pointon (CO author of Colyer book ) good friend of Dave’s. He sends condolences and has many wonderful memories.
RIP Dave

Patti (on F/b) said...

Dave was such a sweet guy - and wonderful musician - he sang really nicely too. We'll all miss him so much.

Roly said...

Such very sad news. Dave was a lovely, gentle person and as John says has made such a remarkable and devoted contribution to the tradition of pure ensemble style New Orleans jazz.

Steve Andrews (on F/b). said...

I heard just a week or so ago that Dave was very ill. Very sorry to hear this news. A nice man and a good banjoist, and very dedicated to jazz. He'll be a big miss.

Cliff Soden (on F/b). said...

Aww man, such sad news. Dave was a lovely guy.

John Hallam (on F/b). said...

Very sorry to hear this. Mac told me last week that Dave was really ill. Great banjo/ tenor guitar player, vocalist and encyclopaedic knowledge of N O stuff. Best of all, he was a nice gentle man.

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

Very sad news.

Gordon Solomon said...

Depressing news indeed. Dave, Mac and myself became interested in New Orleans jazz at about the same time and played together in various bands from the 1960's onwards. A true enthusiast of the music who never said a bad word about anyone.
Gordon Solomon.

Anonymous said...

Just note to register my comments regarding Dave Rae . I was very sad to learn of the passing of Dave Rae.
I first met /worked with Dave Deputising for John Robinson On many occasions Also meeting up with the many Guests that Dave booked on a regular basis
A true gentleman in The New Orleans style
R I P
Raymond Newton Double Bass/ Cello/ Bass Guitar

Keith Peplow said...

Keith and Maggie Peplow in Sicily
We are both so sad to see the news of Dave Rae,he Always had time to speak to speak to us, and provided such good music with his band, so easy to dance to, and provided such a relaxed atmosphere,our thoughts to his family.Rest in Peace Mate.

Chris & Sandra Stapleton said...

Sad indeed. Dave was so kind and thoughtful. The jazz was inspiring and his regular contact since we moved away from NE much appreciated and missed. Jazz scene will be the poorer for this loss. RIP

Margaret & Barry Aitchison said...

Sorry to hear of the news that he is gone he will be missed in the jazz, we liked his music. Now that he is gone we have lost his music and his jazz RIP.

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