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

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

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.

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Album review: Strictly Smokin' Big Band - Sings Ella with Alice Grace

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band's new album (the second in a planned series of three) was recorded in rural Northumberland in July 2021. This Jazz Sounds Records' recording features vocalist Alice Grace, the band and a no-expense-spared string section. Ten tracks, thirty six minutes, the recording quality second to none (take a bow Liam Gaughan), the SSBB at the top of its game, is this the big band album of the year? Ella is, without question, a serious contender. 

And then there is Alice Grace. For those of us who have heard her sing, we've long-since known Ms Grace is one the great British jazz singers, up there with the very best of them. Ella is set to win our adopted Geordie a whole bucket load of new fans. From Cole Porter's Why Can't You Behave? (arr. Buddy Bregman) to Michael Lamb's arrangement of George Gershwin's There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York, band and vocalist aim for the stars. One day they must tell us what it was like up there! 

The SSBB's sections and soloists are heard on top form (including guest tenor saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos) and the twelve-strong string section (Bradley Creswick, leader), plus oboe and French horn, are presented as an integral part of the album, not in any way a 'with strings' afterthought. Alice Grace highlights? Everything on the album. If pushed, That Old Black Magic and I Said No.    

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band's Sings Ella with Alice Grace  is on Jazz Sound Records (cat. no. JSR012). The album is available from: www.strictly-smokin.co.uk. Consider it an essential purchase. And if you're a promoter - jazz club or festival - don't think twice, book the Strictly Smokin' Big Band...with Alice Grace, of course. Russell 

Strictly Smokin' Big Band: Alice Grace (vocals); Steve Summers (alto 1, flute), Keith Robinson (alto 2, clarinet, flute), Jamie Toms (tenor 1, clarinet, bass clarinet), Dave Kerridge (tenor sax 2, clarinet), Laurie Rangecroft (baritone sax, flute), Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax solo track 9); Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey, Pete Tanton, Michael Lamb tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, Stuart McLean-Fowler tracks 1, 3, 5, 8-10 (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Mark Ferris, Chris Kurji-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Graham Don (piano); Michael Whent (bass); Guy Swinton (drums)

The Orchestra: Michael Lamb (conductor); Bradley Creswick (leader), Joanne Atherton, Rebecca Howell, Ed Cross, Jayne Cuggy, Zoë Hodgson, Markus Lawrenson (violins), Chrissie Slater, Claudia Newbegin (violas); Ele Leckie, Mark Carroll (celli); Philip Cull (oboe); Chris Senior (French horn); Sarah Paterson (harp)

Why Can't You Behave?; Lullaby of Broadway; I've Got Beginner's Luck; That Old Black Magic; Love Me or Leave Me; All the Things You Are; I Said No; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; I Fall in Love Too Easily; There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York. 

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1 comment :

Minnie Fraser said...

I have had this album for a week and have nearly worn it out!
It is truly wonderful! I don’t think I have ever had so much joy from a new album!
The band, the orchestra and oh that beautiful voice!!!!
Pure heaven!

Wednesday, May 04, 2022 7:59:00 pm

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