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

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

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 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 17: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 17: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 18: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 18: 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 19: Joe Steels Group @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 19: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 19: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 19: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 19: Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £14.33., £11.16., £8.00.
Fri 19: Martin Litton @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 (inc. bf); £6.50 (inc. bf); £15.00 on the door. Solo piano. CANCELLED!
Fri 19: Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Joe Webb support set.
Fri 19: Hot Club du Nord @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 19: Jive Aces: The Roots of Rock & Roll @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00 + bf.

Sat 20: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge. 5:00-6:00pm.
Sat 20: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 20: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Trinity Church, Gosforth, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00. NCRO w. guests Dean Stockdale & Nick Ward.

Sun 21: From Lagos to Longbenton: Unity in the Community @ Sunderland Minster. From 1:30pm. Free. A multi-bill Unity in the Community event, inc. From Lagos to Longbenton.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Trio w. Graham Hardy.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 22: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 23: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, July 06, 2022

APPJAG Awards 2022 @ The Pizza Express, Holborn - July 5

(Tony Kofi)
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group's annual awards were once again presented at the Pizza Express in Holborn, London. The basement venue on High Holborn welcomed many familiar faces (including Jo Harrop, Nikki Iles, Tony Kofi and Nigel Price) and the less familiar, all partaking of the hospitality - beer, wine and, of course, pizza! 

At an event such as this, schmoozing or 'networking' is upper most in the thoughts of many. For some, meeting up with jazz world friends for the first time in three years proved to be an emotional occasion with hugs and handshakes all round. The parliamentarians took to their reserved front row tables, the rest sat wherever there was a vacant seat. John Spellar MP opened proceedings, welcoming one and all, the awards would follow in quick succession. 

Few in the room would be without their favourites, BSH was rooting for those with north east (of England) connections. The first award - Jazz Vocalist of the Year - went to Claire Martin. Ms. Martin wasn't in the house and her absence would set a trend of several award winners being elsewhere (presumably out gigging, a sure sign of a return to 'normality'). 

(Emma Rawicz)
The wonderful Jo Harrop missed out in two categories (Best Vocalist and Best Album), Tony Kofi (pictured) took home a Best Instrumentalist gong (actually a certificate) and two veterans of the scene were recognised for their lifetime commitment to the music, namely Barbara Thompson and Mike Westbrook.

Newcomer of the Year...Emma Rawicz. If you were running a book (betting parlance), Rawicz (pictured) was 'nailed on', a 'dead cert'. And the good news is, the up-and-coming Rawicz is to appear at this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival!

(Debra Milne)
And then there was Venue of the Year. Fine words were uttered by Chi Onwurah MP and when the Newcastle upon Tyne political representative uttered the words: And the winner is...The Globe, Newcastle, you couldn't hear a pin drop! Cheered to the rafters, Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Debra Milne accepted the award on behalf of all involved with the Tyneside co-operative. Debra spoke about the ambition, the dream of opening a community-owned music venue and the hard work of many who helped make those dreams a reality. Resuming her seat, Debra wondered if she did alright up there in the spotlight. BSH assured her she did more than alright!

Earlier, the 'house band' for the evening played a fine set of half an hour or so. Veteran Henry Lowther (trumpet) and Tori Freestone (tenor sax) enjoyed themselves, as did the top flight piano, bass and drums team led by pianist Andrea Vicari. The occasion - a catch-up, get together - meant few in the audience were listening attentively to the A-listers on stage. One assumes the musicians were guaranteed MU rates. And good for them! 
 
Henry Lowther (tenor sax); Tori Freestone (tenor sax); Andrea Vicari (piano); Gary Crosby (double bass); Paul Clarvis (drums)

APPJAG 2023? Here's hoping for yet more 'up north' success stories! Russell
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive