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).

Saturday, April 08, 2023

The Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - April 6

Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Colin Miller, Alan Catherall (trumpets); Keith Jeffries, Neville Hartley, Dave Brocklesby, Alistair Wood (trombones); Richie Emmerson (MD), Ray Dales, Alan Thompson, Barbara Fagan, Norman Scriven. (saxes); Dave Archbold (keys) Karen McCleave (bass) Ed Maughan (guitar); Paul Smith (drums).

The band, led by saxophonist Richie Emmerson, consisted of 17 first class musicians many of them familiar faces at the Tees Hot Club.

Living up to the expectations of the audience they presented a night of varied and professionally arranged big band compositions which made for a highly successful evening.

For Kenton fans the band started with the Lennie Niehaus’ arrangement of On The Street Where You Live - clearly showing their class.

Frenesi  was followed by a Sammy Nestico  arrangement of  Lonely Street featuring Ray Dales who, at 86, is still playing fine alto sax. This Could be the Start of Something Big included nice solos from Bill Watson (trumpet) Dave Archbold (keys) and excellent drumming from Paul Smith.

Jimmy Van Heusen's Here's That Rainy Day featured Kevin Eland (trumpet) and Henry Mancini's Charade included sax solos from Richie Emmerson (tenor) and Alan Thompson (alto). Speak Low with a nice guitar solo from Ed Maughan was followed with I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ from Porgy and Bess played hip hop style.

The first set ended with an up tempo version of The Heat is on with excellent sax from Richie and fine ensemble work from the four trumpets.

No introduction was required for the start of the second set, a swinging Take the A Train with great backing from Karen McCleave (bass) Paul Smith (drums), Dave Archbold (keys) and a fine trombone solo from Dave Brocklesby. A nice contrast to A Train was Benny Golson's Whisper Not followed by  Kenton's King Fish.

Bill Watson featured on flugel with the beautiful ballad Monday's Child. Count Basie's up tempo Flight of the Foo Birds had the band really swinging. Louis Bellson's Brush Taps with a skilful drum intro from Paul was followed by a Sammy Nestico arrangement of  Day In Day Out.

Gordon Goodwin's theme tune from Beauty and the Beast was supposedly the final number but with the night going so well a swinging Love For Sale was played as an encore finally bringing the night to a close.

The first big band guest night of the year was a great success thanks to the professionalism of the band members and leader saxophonist/raconteur Richie Emmerson.

Thanks to Dorman’s for the extra bar staff and general support. Ron Hampton 
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