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

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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 TBC.
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.

Saturday, May 13, 2023

R.I.P. Jack Goodwin.

(Taken Feb. this year)
Sad to learn of the passing of Jack Goodwin who left us in the early hours of this morning after a long illness that became progressively worse.

Jack's daughter Karen tells me he was listening to the music he loved until the very end.

Jack's music tastes covered a wide spectrum going back to 1954 when, as a New Orleans style trombonist, he became a founder member of the original Vieux Carré Jazzmen. 

He moved on to more modern areas and a photo he took of the Don Rendell/ Ian Carr Quartet later formed the cover art for their album Live at the Union 1966. 

His greatest achievement in jazz circles was, without doubt, the definitive discography he produced of tenor saxophonist WARNE MARSH. The amount of time spent researching his subject was most surely a labour of love for the work of his favourite tenor saxophonist.

(See comment)
When Marsh and Lee Konitz played at the Corner House in Whitley Bay I was privileged to be in Jack's company and to be (briefly) introduced to Warne Marsh. "This is Lance, he works in our local music shop so if you need any reeds ..." He didn't need any reeds!

The last time I actually spoke to Jack was in 2016 when Russell and I collected some 'surplus to requirement' cassettes and some '78s' - Jelly Roll Morton's Library of Congress recordings - from him.

Like all true jazz enthusiasts he covered both ends of the spectrum.

Jack Goodwin was 91.

Sadly missed, May he Rest In Peace. Lance

2 comments :

Brian Bennett said...

I’m sorry to hear the sad news about Jack Goodwin. He was the original VCJ trombonist along with the other founder members, Pete Gascoigne trumpet, John Saxelby clarinet, Pete Deuchar banjo, John Lowes string bass and Peter Drysdale drums. I was in touch with Jack for quite some time and he always expressed an interest in where and when the Vieux Carré Jazzmen were performing. I’d hoped to get Jack along to one of our sessions for a sit-in, but sadly, and mainly due to various health related issues, he never made it. However, he did send me a rare pic of himself playing trombone around 1952/53. He commented, "I seem to remember that there is only one existing photograph of Buddy Bolden. I appear to share that same rarity.”

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear that Jack has passed. He was an extraordinary human whose time and effort regarding Warne and his recordings is "ne plus ultra." He and I corresponded for a while and he sent me many CDs of rare Warne recordings that I will be forever grateful for. Sincerest condolences to his family. I will miss him.
Alan Pudding

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