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

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 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: 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 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

June

Mon 01: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Mon 01: CW Stoneking @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Blues, Americana.

Tue 02: Mark Williams Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 02: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Musicians Unlimited @ Steelies, Hartlepool - Oct. 24

Steelies, aka South Durham Social Club, is onto a winner. Sunday lunchtime, concert room, full house, bar sales, and it's all down to Teesside's big band Musicians Unlimited taking up residency once a week on Westbourne Road. Mick Donnelly's outfit goes about it's business without fuss, smiles radiating across the sections. Today's session would feature vocalists Jan Spencelayh and Paul Skerritt with Bill Watson contributing several fine trumpet/flugelhorn solos. 

Stars Fell on Alabama opened today's programme, something of an unusual opener, measured rather than explosive. The sections sounding just fine, the rhythm section featuring veteran pianist Ted Pearce working alongside Tees Hot Club guitarist Ian Bosworth, bassist Ron Smith, drummer John Bradford and the evergreen Ernie Jackson on percussion. 

Bill Watson's solos (trumpet and flugelhorn) deservedly won warm applause (Stars Fell on Alabama, The Touch of Your Lips, A Foggy Day in London Town, I've Found a New Baby). Sue Ferris, playing tenor sax, contributed excellent solos, Kevin Eland nailed his trumpet parts, and the vocalists - Ms Spencelayh and Mr Skerritt - were on the money all afternoon (Spencelayh singing A Night Like This from the Bond movie Casino Royale, Skerritt effortlessly scaling the heights on Come Fly with Me). 

MU's big band version of Wonderwall worked a treat (Skerritt), What a Difference a Day Makes (Spencelayh), Sweet Georgia Brown, yes, a varied set list making this afternoon's big band concert an unqualified success.  Russell
 
Musicians Unlimited: Mick Donnelly (MD); Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Dave Harrison, James Corking (trumpets); Josh Bentham, Kim Skerritt (alto saxes); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Barbara Fagan (tenor sax); Jill Nelson (baritone sax); John Day, Dave Brocklesby, Tommy Cloughton, Peter Morgan (trombones); Ian Bosworth (guitar); Ted Pearce (piano); Ron Smith (bass guitar); John Bradford (drums); Ernie Jackson (percussion); Jan Spencelayh, Paul Skerritt (vocals)

Set list: Stars Fell on Alabama; Come Fly with Me; The Touch of Your Lips; A Night Like This; A Foggy Day in London Town; For Once in My Life; Light Variations; Fever; I've Found a New Baby; What a Difference a Day Makes; Emancipation Blues; My Heart Belongs to Daddy; Misty; Wonderwall; Children of Sanchez; The Best is Yet to Come; Sweet Georgia Brown
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