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

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 Kevin Eland (trumpet).
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.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Monday, August 15, 2022

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival (Day 4) Sunday August 21

The fourth and final day of this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival gets under way at 1:30pm with Lindsay Hannon singing Tom Waits. Wittily billed as Tom Waits for No Man, Lindsay (pictured) will be joined for the occasion by pianist Alan Law. In addition, there is the prospect of our duo being fleshed out into a trio by the participation of a - no names, no pack drill - Tyneside bass player! 

Tyne Bank Brewery and several mobile artisan food outlets will cater to your every need. Naturally, the beers are brewed by the good people of Tyne Bank. 

Beer and food on the table, watch out for David Gray's Flextet (pictured). The ever-excellent 'Showtime', first call 'bone man with any number of outfits, leads an energetic band: Adam Sams, guitar, Alan Law, piano, Paul Grainger, bass, and drummer Michael Mather. The Flextet will be on stage at 2:40. 

Little more than one hour later at 3:50pm it's the all-conquering Knats. Few bands in the region will have played as many gigs in the past twelve months as these guys. Three members of the quartet - Josh Mitchell-Rayner,
keyboards, Stan Woodward, bass, and drummer King David Ike-Elechi - will soon be heading to London to begin their undergraduate music studies, so this Newcastle Jazz Festival appearance will be one of the few remaining opportunities to hear the band. Don't miss Josh, Stan, King and, of course, emerging trumpet star Ferg Kilsby (all four pictured), as they're guaranteed to tear it up!


Ben Gilbert (pictured) makes a swift return to the region (the Leeds-based pianist was in concert last week at Bishop Auckland Town Hall) with his all-new trio featuring saxophonist Anna Chandler and bassist José Canha. The music of Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez is likely to feature in the trio's set, be sure to recharge your glass and take a seat in time for a five o'clock start. 

And then, the 'closing ceremony' of this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival,  (tickets HERE ) features APPJAG award-winning saxophonist Emma Rawicz. Recently crowned 'Best Newcomer' at the 2022 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group's annual shindig (see photo of Emma accepting her award at London's Holborn Pizza Express), Royal Academy of Music undergraduate Rawicz (tenor & soprano saxophones, flute) has been working with many of the top names on the scene, a clear indication of her standing with seasoned musicians. Emma takes to the stage at 6:15pm alongside Dean Stockdale, piano, Andy Champion, bass, and Dave McKeague, drums. Four days, three venues and countless bands, the 2022 Newcastle Jazz Festival is unmissable! Russell
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