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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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, 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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