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

18656 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 520 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 25) 72

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

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 30: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

July

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 02: 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 02: De’Sean Jones & Blaque Dynamite feat. Urban Art Orchestra @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). De’Sean Jones (MD, tenor sax); Blaque Dynamite (Mike Mitchell, drums); Jamie Murray (drums) with UAO horns & strings.
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.
Thu 02: Howlin’ Mat @ Newcastle Arts centre. 7:30pm. Free. Acoustic

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Paul Donnelly Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 03: Martin Taylor @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Taylor (solo guitar).

Sat 04: Spats Langham’s Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Take the ‘A’ Train to Summertime: From Melody to Masterclass. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest TBC.
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Midweek at Small's (Feb. 22-25)

Ari Hoenig Trio - Feb. 22

Gadi Lehavi (piano); Matt Penman (double bass); Ari Hoenig (drums)

Ari Hoenig is something of a legend in these parts and a three figure online audience (plus a handful allowed onto the premises) enjoyed the first of two one hour sets from the drummer's trio. Lines of Oppression generated much animated discussion and praise, similarly Chick Corea's Steps. Pianist Gadi Lehavi and busy bassist Matt Penman (also to been heard later in the week) were on the case, not least in an excellent take on Yardbird Suite.   
 
Steve Nelson Quartet - Feb. 23

Steve Nelson (vibes); Rick Germanson (piano); Kiyoshi Kitagawa (double bass); Charles Goold (drums)

Steve Wilson regularly features in end-of-year polls and his ace quartet on this gig did a great job in helping to keep the vibes man at the forefront of the minds of those watching from around the globe. From Surrey with the Fringe on Top to Nelson's compositions Song for Tina and Everything I Love, all were expertly executed by band mates Rick Germanson, Kiyoshi Kitagawa and Charles Goold.    

Nir Felder Trio - Feb. 24

Nir Felder (guitar); Matt Penman (double bass); Antonio Sanchez (drums)

Nir Felder, a name, a name in the frame when the awards' season is in full swing, teamed up with Matt Penman (earlier in the week he was on duty with Ari Hoenig) and none other than Antonio Sanchez. Nir (pronounced 'Near') Felder said he was 'stoked' to be playing with the great Antonio Sanchez (drummer with Dave Holland for many a year). Fender Strat in hand, jeans, trainers, Felder cut a figure not unlike Mike Stern. Our man looks the type who is never out of the woodshed shredding, this evening playing a couple of tunes from his latest album recorded back in July of last year - Fire in August and Coronation (the album simply titled II) - and a cut from his first album, Golden Age. Online comment from woodshedding types suggested they were in their element, just as Felder appeared to be.     

Melanie Charles Quintet - Feb. 25

Melanie Charles (flute, vocals); Rogerst Charles (alto sax); Axel Tosca (piano; Jonathan Michel (double bass); Anwar Marshall (drums)  

Melanie Charles, flute and vocals, a name new to BSH. First impressions? Of the hip hop generation with a hint of Sarah Vaughan. Introducing 'my favourite tune of all time', Ms Charles sang There is no Greater Love. Excellent, with excellent brushwork from Anwar Marshall. A Haitian folk song followed by an original composition, Charles sang with little sign she would be picking up her flute. Chatting to her Small's audience (clearly big fans) and an online following, Charles recalled working on a transatlantic cruise ship stopping off in Spain and on the French Riviera, before going on to sing The Nearness of You followed by an energetic take on Horace Silver's Soul Searchin' (with the evening's sole outing for her flute), joined for only the second time on the set by alto saxophonist Rogerst Charles. A good set. It would be good to hear Melanie Charles again, online from Small's or, better still, on a visit to the 183 West 10th Street, NYC venue.  
Russell.        
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