Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 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

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

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

October.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest tba
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Album review: Roya Naldi - A Night in June

Rivermont Records' documentation of a burgeoning 21st century 'classic jazz' scene continues with the release of an album of songs by vocalist Roya Naldi. When, as a teen, Naldi saw a Pathé short film of Al Bowlly singing The Very Thought of You it left a lasting impression. Naldi recalled the occasion saying: My fate was sealed. 

From first sitting-in at Chicago's legendary Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, the young singer from Seattle has immersed herself in the music of the 1920s and 30s. Meeting muti-instrumentalist Andy Schumm (a key figure on the Chicago jazz scene) proved pivotal and her debut recording - A Night in June - is now available worldwide. 

The Chicago Cellar Boys (featuring Andy Schumm, cornet, clarinet and alto sax alongside Paul Asaro, piano and new boy, sorry, girl, tenor saxophonist Natalie Scharf) accompany Naldi on the recording of which 13 of 15 tracks are vocal numbers. Of the other two one - Blue Thoughts - is a solo feature for Asaro and one - Oh Me! Oh My - a band instrumental. 

In addition to Bowlly, Naldi cites Cliff Edwards, Frank Sylvano, Annette Hanshaw and Russ Columbo as inspirational figures and numbers such as Crying Myself to Sleep, Give Me a Night in June, Guilty and The Very Thought of You illustrate her affinity with the vocal stylings of a century ago. 
Russell

Roya Naldi with the Chicago Cellar Boys and Friends: Roya Naldi (vocals); Andy Schumm (cornet, clarinet, alto saxophone); John Otto (clarinet, alto saxophone); Natalie Scharf (tenor saxophone); Ethan Adelsman (violin); Paul Asaro (piano); John Donatowicz (banjo, guitar); Dave Bock (tuba, bass); Hal Smith (drums)

A Night in June by Roya Naldi is available from Rivermont Records (cat. no. BSW-2255). 

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