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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 2025).

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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

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, January 19, 2021

R.I.P. Alan Smith (trumpet)

Just had more sad news. Trumpet ace Alan Smith died this morning. He hadn't been in the best of health for some time. Will post again after more information is received. In the photo Alan can be seen on trumpet playing with the Maine St. Jazzmen at Hebburn's Iona Club in 2008.

Sadly missed.

Lance 

33 comments :

Betty Brett (on F/b) said...

Really very sorry to hear this.

Chris Kaberry (on F/b) said...

Oh no.... this is really really sad news....

Patti Durham (on F/b) said...

Yes, this is really sad, for Alan's family and friends of course - but the whole local jazz community. I see Derek Fleck was on reeds for this gig - he's another good jazzer that we had to say goodbye to, a couple of years ago.

Roly Veitch said...

Very sorry to hear this sad news.

Mia Webb (on F/b) said...

Condolences to Alan's family at this very sad time. I loved working with Alan, he was such a gentleman and a truly professional musician. Sadly missed 😪

Unknown said...

This is very sad news miss him lots FromDavid Raine (New Horisons)

Alan Marshall (on F/b) said...

Very sorry to hear of this Alan was lovely man and a great player.

Linda Hampton (on F/b) said...

Really sorry to hear this sad news! Such a lovely man and fine musician. Will miss him. Xx

Colin Haikney (on F/b) said...

Worked with him in many different bands. Lovely man. R I P. Alan

Elaine Francis (on F/b) said...

Such sad news 😢

James Harrison (on F/b) said...

Damn. Really sad! 😢 Alan was always very supportive and encouraging of us “youngsters”!

Bob Stephenson (on F/b) said...

Sorry to hear. R I P Alan.

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

Sorry to hear this sad news, a lovely man and great player.

Sid White (on F/b) said...

Nice Guy Alan played with him a few times a great player. Sad news.

Laurie Brown (on F/b) said...

IN SHOCK ! Alan was always so enthusiastic and encouraging. The original trumpeter with the great "Friends of Jazz" I had the pleasure of working with and a frequent guest with the "Jazz Esquires" RIP Alan.

Mark Robertson (on F/b) said...

One of nature's true gentleman. I always felt welcome when ever I saw him on a gig.

James McBriarty (on F/b) said...

Really shocked and sad to hear about Alan, I played alongside him many times over the years. He was a great influence on my early jazz playing. He was a true gentleman and a nice person.

Ian Stocks said...

Sorry to hear about Alan, like many of you, we worked many times over the years,a really nice guy.

Tony Winder (on F/b) said...

So sorry to hear. Such a lovely man.

Jeremy McMurray said...

So sad to hear about Alan today, a lovely guy and musician. Love and condolences to Pat and family. May he RIP.

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

Sad news about Alan. We immediately became friends on our first gig together. Great player and jazzer.

Colin Aitchison (on F/b) said...

Very sad news, I got to know Alan at the Wheatsheaf jam sessions in New York (North Tyneside), very nice trumpet player and person. R.I.P.

Bradley Johnston (on F/b) said...

Very sorry to hear this. It was always a pleasure to play alongside Alan with the CHBB. R.I.P. Alan. Bx

Barry Black (on F/b) said...

He was a lovely guy. Very sad news.

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

Going to miss your jazz Alan.....RIP.....see you later....

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

Sad news indeed, so sorry to hear, he was a great bloke! R.I.P Alan.

Brian Bennett said...

Sorry to hear this sad news. Alan was a brilliant trumpet player and I count myself fortunate to have played alongside him over the years especially when I occasionally dep’d for Keith Belton in the heyday of The Tees Valley Jazzmen when they were resident at the Blue Bell in Acklam. RIP Alan.

Neville Hartley said...

Very sorry to hear this sad news. I worked closely with Alan for nearly 15 years with the Tees Valley Jazzmen (and also with other bands)and we became very close friends. He was a good man and a true friend who would never let you down. He will be sadly missed.
RIP Alan - hope they play some good music up there.

olive & alan said...

Very sorry to hear about Alan, We've known him a long time, from Burton House Trio, and happy days with the Tees Valley Jazzmen and Stan Coates big band. A fine musician, always reliable!
RIP Alan. There'll be a great band waiting for you up there!

Olive & Alan R.

Carolyn Norris (on F/b) said...

So sorry to hear this, he was such a lovely man.

Barry Aitchison said...

I am sorry to here that Alan is gone. My mother and I saw him in different places playing jazz and the sound was good. His trumpet playing was the tops. He will be missed RIP.

Peter Ayton said...

So sorry to hear about the passing of Alan, a lovely man and a great trumpet player, will miss him. Always had a laugh with him when meeting up. Condolences to Pat, and Alan's family.

Ek Strodl said...

Met Alan way back in the mid 1970's....little did I know then that we would work together in coming years. Had the great pleasure of standing next to Alan when he worked with "Fairwind" latterly in nineties. Also worked alongside him with Clive Collins band and many other big bands. Great chap with a dry sense of humour which we shared on many car journeys. Condolences to Patti and all the family.
Erik Strodl

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