Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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

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 SleepGive Me a Night in JuneGuilty 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). 

No comments :

Blog Archive