Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Monday, April 11, 2022

The New Wonders just off the New Jersey Turnpike - April 10

The New Wonders: Mike Davis (cornet, vocals); Jay Rattman (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Joe McDonough (trombone); Jared Engel (banjo, vocals); Dalton Ridenhour (piano); Ryan Weisheit (bass sax); Jay Lepley (drums, vocals) 

Mike Davis' New Wonders accepted an invitation from the Tri-State Jazz Society to play an afternoon concert at Haddonfield Methodist Church, New Jersey. Cornetist Davis is a renowned exponent of all things 'classic jazz' - performing the music, dressing the part, living the life. The New Yorker and his New Wonders pulled off the New Jersey Turnpike to play a Sunday afternoon concert up in Haddonfield, a concert available to all, worldwide, thanks to the 'new wonder' of online streaming.

Davis reshuffled the pack ever so slightly with bass sax man Jay Rattman moving into the alto sax chair to accommodate Ryan Weisheit on the big beast. Davis' New Wonders album provided one or two numbers over the course of the afternoon's two sets. Indeed, I Get the Blues When it Rains, and the stand-out track from the 2016 recording, I'm Walking Between the Raindrops, proved to be first set highlights. 

Second set Davis said: Dalton, would you like to play a solo piano piece? Sure, replied our pianist, Good, said Davis. And so the band took five. The Gershwin's Do, Do, Do followed by Davis' transcription of Lila maintained a varied programme. More variety with a couple of four-part vocal harmonies (including Clorinda) featuring Davis, Rattman, Engel and Lepley, a kazoo-less Deep Sea Blues compensated by Joe McDonough's trombone and another Davis vocal feature on The Best Things in Life are Free.  The Very Thought of You featured the elegant piano playing of Dalton Ridenhour and Davis' vaudevillian vocals. The New Wonders signed-off with Tiger Rag. Russell

First set: Eiger ?; Nothin; Does-Does Like it Used to Do-Do-Do; I Need Lovin'; I Get the Blues When it Rains; I'm Walking Between the Raindrops; April Showers; Hurricane; Arkansas Blues; I'm More than Satisfied; Sugar Foot Strut; Crying for the Carolinas; Midnight, the Stars and You; Rockin' Chair.

Second set: Loud Speakin' Papa (You'd Better Speak Easy to Me); Persian Rug; That Certain Party; Love Will Find a Way; Do, Do, Do; My Blue Heaven; Lila; Clorinda; If You Want the Rainbow (You Must Have the Rain); The Deep Blue Sea Blues; The Best Things in Life are Free; Three Blind Mice; Alabamy Bound; The Very Thought of You; Wang Wang Blues; Ain't Misbehavin'; Tiger Rag.                   

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