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

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: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 3:20pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
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: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:40pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
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: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 11:00am. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
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: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 5:40pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
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: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 11:50am. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
Mon 08: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 08: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 5:15pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
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).

Tue 09: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 3:00pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.
Tue 09: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 09: FILM: Köln 75 @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:10pm. Dir. Ido Fluk. Drama based on the true story of Keith Jarrett’s 1975 concert in Cologne.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

RIP Pete Stuart.

The obituaries are piling up and will be duly posted but, for those of us in the north east surely none is more sad than this one sent to me by drummer Ernie Jackson.

Very sad news. My dear old friend Peter Stuart passed away peacefully on the 22nd of July. He had been ill for a long time.

The funeral is on the 6th of August at Sunderland Crematorium at 9:30am. No flowers please by request. A great friend and a brilliant musician. RIP my old friend - Ernie Jackson.

Pete Stuart was, until ill-health took him off the scene, the number one bass player in the area and beyond. As part of the various bands at the Corner House, Newcastle, Pete was the lynchpin with Bill Harper, Malcolm Saul and the other bands that supported the various American stars imported by Jazz North East. Al Grey, Buddy Tate, Joe Newman, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Witherspoon and a host of others all benefited from Pete Stuart's ability to fit in and enhance the gig.

He will be sadly missed. A great musician and an even greater gentleman. All musicians should play muted tonight.

RIP.
Lance

15 comments :

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

Had the honour of playing with Pete in Ray Chester's Big Band and in small groups......a driving force. Another giant has left us......RIP Pete Stuart.

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

Pete was also with us in the BBC Radio Newcastle Dance Band along with too many names who are no longer with us ! Probably the North Easts finest ! RIP

Anne DeVere Harper (on F/b) said...

Devastated by the news of Peter's death !! we had known of his tragic illness for a long time, having kept in touch with Dorothy & realised that this sad day would eventually arrive.

Steve Andrews said...

This is very sad news. Pete was bass-player Royalty! I had the great fortune to play several gigs with him over the years, and was always astonished at his facility, swing, and generosity towards my much inferior efforts. R.I.P. Pete.

shepherdlass said...

Such sad news. He was wonderful

Gillian Nelson (on F/b) said...

It was a pleasure to know you Pete, we had many happy gigs & trips together. RIP xx

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

Oh no, so sorry to hear this news. I worked with Pete in various bands. He was a fabulous bass player. RIP Pete xx

Lewis Watson said...



Very sad news, had the pleasure of playing with Pete on many occasions, always loved his drive and energy, condolences to

his family

Lewis Watson

Jeremy McMurray said...

I was very sad to hear of Peter’s death this morning, a huge loss to the profession.

Pete was the very best of the best, a superb bass player and all round musician. I don’t know how he did it, (he told me he rarely practiced) but he seemed to know every tune in the book and if he didn’t, he soon did.

I worked with Pete on numerous occasions, the last few gigs we did together were at the Harrogate Brasserie with Dave Challice. We would often travel together and it wasn’t long before the conversation would centre around our joint passion for cars, particularly classic cars and his classic camper van!

Pete was the consummate professional, he made playing jazz all the more enjoyable and rewarding, but more importantly, he was a lovely guy with a wonderful sense of humour. He will be greatly missed. RIP Pete.

Alan Rudd said...

Very sad to hear about Pete Stuart passing. A great musician who was the North East's first call bass player until his health deteriorated. I used to often hear him playing with Tommy Moran's quartet or Roly Veitch's quartet back in the day, and was always inspired by his playing! RIP Pete

Roly said...

Such sad news. Pete was a wonderful bass player and it was a privilege to work with him at Blaydon and elsewhere over many years. As Jeremy says so nicely, he was a lovely, totally sincere person. Roly.

Tommy Moran said...

Absolutely saddened to hear the news that Pete has gone. Going back over the years I worked with Pete a lot, with my own quartet with Billy Harper, and with Malcolm Saul before that. We became very close friends. Very sorry for his lovely wife Dorothy and his family. We will miss him very much because he was the best bass player that came out of the North East. Lots of love and condolence to Dorothy and I will always remember Pete with great affection! RIP Pete

Rod Sinclair said...

Great musician and a real gentleman. I first heard him at the Corner House and was knocked out the power and musicality of his playing. When I first did a gig with him I was apprehensive because of his status but found him to be kind and encouraging.
A great loss to his family and the musical world.

Russell said...

Like Rod, I first heard Pete at the Corner House. What a great sound! Without exception the American touring musicians were fulsome in their praise of Pete's bass playing. I think most musicians would settle for one such accolade! And then there were the sessions at Blaydon Jazz Club - exactly the same, great bass playing. Pete would always nod and say hello. A nice man, he'll be missed.

Mark Robertson said...

I had the honour of playing with Peter for a glorious 4year stretch in Blaydon. At the end of my stretch I was a different player. Peter was always supportive. A part of my playing will always be "Pete" I doubt I will be alone in this. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Love and condolence to his family. He will be missed. Mark Robertson.

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