Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

March

Mon 30: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 30: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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). 

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