Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 22: Paul Skerritt @ Market Place, Durham. From 12 noon. Free. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.
Fri 22: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 22: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 22: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 22: Paul Edis Trio @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £TBC. Edis, Andy Champion, Steve Hanley.

Sat 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall. 2:00pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 23: Paul Edis @ Core Music, Gilesgate, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00. A Core Music fundraiser, Hexham Jazz Weekender Day/Weekend ticket not applicable. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: Blyth Big Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 6:30pm. £9.00., £5.00.
Sat 23: Paul Edis & Friends @ Musicwonders, Church Chare, Chester-le-Street. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £15.00. www.musicwonders.org. BYOB. SOLD OUT!
Sat 23: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Queen’s Hall Hexham. 7:00pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: TC & the Groove Family + Lagos to Longbenton @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 23: Davina & the Vagabonds @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £22.00. + £1.50 bf.
Sat 23: Celebrating Wes Montgomery @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 8:15pm. £14.00., £12.00. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sat 23: Chris Coull’s Porgy & Bess @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 9:30pm. £16.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.

Sun 24: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 24: SwanNek @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £11.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sun 24: Salty Dog @ The Globe, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Free. Donations.
Sun 24: Ben Crosland’s Threeway @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Line-up inc. Steve Waterman. Hexham Jazz Weekender.
Sun 24: Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 24: Street Brass Band Bonanza: The Fanfare + Storytellers + Tenth Avenue Band @ The Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £10.00., £8.00.
Sun 24: Charlie Parr @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Blues. Jumpin’ Hot Club.
Sun 24: Olly Styles Experience @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.
Sun 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 8:15pm. £13.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender. Feat. Jamil Sheriff.
Sun 24: Modern Vikings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 9:30pm. £16.50 (inc. bf). Hexham Jazz Weekender.

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.
. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

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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