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.

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Joe Webb: The Art of Tatum @ Saltburn Arts - August 20

Joe Webb (piano); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Sach (double bass)

It was back in November last year that Joe Webb streamed a Kansas Smitty's session devoted to the piano genius Art Tatum. Such was the response, Joe decided to take it on the road. A world premiere performance at Newcastle's Lit & Phil won a standing ovation (see LL's review). A second performance later in the day down in Saltburn couldn't possibly be as good, could it? 

Saltburn Arts' jazz crowd, plus a few holiday makers, turned up to find out for themselves just how good a pianist Joe Webb is. The 'Art of Tatum' trio - Joe, guitarist Dave Archer, bassist Will Sach - set up as it had done earlier in the day up on Tyneside, close together, just the way Tatum played it. I've Got Rhythm opened the show. Boy, do these guys have rhythm?! Joe's easy going, conversational style of presentation is a lesson to some...engage with the audience, enthuse about the music, simply be yourself, no airs and graces. 

Much of the programme could be heard earlier in the day, but no matter, the level of musicianship on show couldn't be bettered, it's worth hearing time and again. Playing two sets afforded Joe the opportunity to play a couple of solo piano pieces - When You Wish Upon a Star in the style of Tatum, and Three Little Words. Three word to describe these solo excursions...astounding, mesmerising, virtuosic. 

Joe's pals on this Art Tatum project - and they are pals - Dave Archer and Will Sach are similarly accomplished musicians. The Saltburn audience warmed to their individual and collective brilliance, at times the applause was of the thunderous variety. Each and every number couldn't be faulted, but it was the dazzling uptempo numbers - Tea for Two and I Know That You Know - which threatened to bring the house down.       

Tatum, Fats, James P, Willie the Lion, if there is a lineage, add the name Joe Webb to the list. Russell         

Set list: I've Got Rhythm; Cocktails for Two; After You've Gone; Moonglow; When You Wish Upon a Star (solo piano): Deep Purple; I Know That You Know; Sunday; I Would Do Anything for You; Liza; Tea for Two; Three Little Words (solo piano); Honeysuckle Rose; If I Had You; Soft Winds; A Simple Tune.   

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive