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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: 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 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

June

Mon 01: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 01: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Mon 01: CW Stoneking @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Blues, Americana.

Tue 02: Mark Williams Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 02: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 02: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, July 03, 2023

Michael Young Trio @ the Engine Room, Sunderland - July 3

Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Unfortunately, because of transport problems - maybe I'll move to Rwanda where their public transport system is probably more reliable - I missed the opening number which, I'm told, was Summertime so maybe Nexus did me, at least for the moment, a favour for which,  they got their revenge later (don't ask!).

Young is a welcome addition to the north east jazz scene. Where has he been hiding? Sunderland jazz needs someone like him (and more) as much as their local football team needs a striker who doesn't get injured every other game.

With Grainger and Mrs Keeble he has found the ideal team and they gel.

The most encouraging thing about tonight was that, even after the diners had challenged their bowels with, say, 8oz Ribeye Steak (WF) £22 Peppercorn Sauce, Green Beans and Home Cooked Chips, many of them stayed on to listen and enjoy. Personally, next time round I may fork out on that Ribeye Steak. I'm a sucker for ribeye steaks. 

However, as the 'lecky', the road tax and the other vultures are closing in on me, maybe I'll ask for an estimate on a bag of crisps first.

Back to the music, this is, perhaps as close as we'll ever get to what we dreamers dreamed of. The Cherry Tree in Jesmond came as close as any venue did to create the perfect jazz/dining setting. It was the most magnificent, glorious and ambitious attempt to bring jazz and cordon-blue cooking together that the north east had ever known. Despite showcasing all the region's top players and many from further afield it eventually threw in the towel.

So will the Engine Room succeed? Time will tell. Lance

Summertime: So What?; God Bless the Child; For Once in my Life; Nefertiti;  Dolphin Dance; Caravan; The Look of Love; Moments  Notice; Rosalinda's Eyes; Bemsha Swing; Infant Eyes; I'm Getting Sentimental Over You; Amanda's Rumba;  Saturday Night in the Cosmos

2 comments :

Abbie said...

Still Abbie Finn I'm afraid lance ;) no keeble haha

Anonymous said...

Lance thanks! Sorry you missed our cracking mambo version of Summertime - after Dizzy & Mongo Santamaría. Fun to play perhaps a one time only thing ��

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