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).

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Moses Boyd on Miles Davis' Nefertiti

(Press release)

World renowned listening concept series Classic Album Sundays is celebrating 10 years of hi-fidelity, immersive album experiences with the launch of free weekly live-streamed series, ‘My Classic Album’.  Funded by Arts Council England, the Sunday weekly show features an inspiring line-up of revered and cutting-edge guests including Kate Tempest, Goldie, Gary Crosby OBE, Black Midi, Nitin Sawhney with more to be announced.  The series will run alongside the platform’s  Patreon subscription service with monthly events, quizzes, webinars and sessions which have been joined by special guests like Giles Peterson, KT Tunstall, Joy Boyd and more.

The 2021 programming will kick start this Sunday 17th January at 8pm youtube.com/ClassicAlbumSundays - with a brand new episode featuring Moses Boyd.  Viewers will see Moses embarking on a deeply personal exploration of Miles Davis' benchmark album 'Nefertiti', including how just at 17 years old "everything changed" upon discovering the album, which not only shook the jazz landscape, but shaped his playing style and career.  This was a pivoting moment for Moses and one which has since led him to collaborate with many names including Little Simz, Floating Points and Beyonce.  Breaking down the record's "beautiful destruction" with an encyclopaedic yet accessible detail; Moses also gives rare insight into how Davis' further experimentation with electronic sounds and constant pushing of his band(s) has informed his creative process:

"A song is never really finished, you can always look at it from a different angle. This is what opened my eyes to looking into songs in a different way. Let's write a song but it's not done there, let's get it in a studio speed it up, let's slow it down...this album is such a good example of where music COULD go."


Hosted by CAS founder Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Worldwide FM broadcaster & DJ Tina Edwards, NTS DJ and ex Boiler Room host Raj Chauduri, the DIY concept series takes place in an intimate, one-on-one setting with artists taking a deep dive on an album that has defined their journey. Often providing a level of contemplation attributed to lockdown, each interview reveals incredibly profound and personal insights, allowing each seminal album to be seen and felt in a totally new way.

Kate Tempest kicked off the 2020 series giving a rich personal exploration of Roots Manuva's 'Brand New Second Hand. Reminiscing on being a teenager, hanging out at open mic nights at Carnaby Street's legendary Deal Real Records rubbing shoulders with rap giants like Skinny Man, Ghost Face Killa and Ty - to meeting Roots Manuva. Further episodes saw Gary Crosby OBE exploring Charles Mingus ‘The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady’ and Nitin Sawhney on his Mercury nominated album 'Beyond Skin' and spoken word performer, 

CAS Founder Colleen Murphy says: “I’m very excited about the ‘My Classic Album’ series as we are bringing together a diverse range of dynamic artists, celebrating records that have changed the cultural landscape. In-depth music listening is a healing force that is much needed in this challenging time, and these revealing interviews will inspire viewers to turn off from daily life and give the album a spin themselves. I’m also grateful to be in a position to help support the presenters, creatives and artists involved in the ‘My Classic Album’ series, which has been made possible by the Arts Council England Culture Recovery Fund.”

Funded by the Arts Council England Cultural Relief Fund, the series will help support the venue and creatives who are making episode possible, as well as the artists themselves. 

'My Classic Album’ returns streaming live on Sunday 17 Jan at 8pm via YouTube and Facebook 

Curtis

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