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 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 25: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 25: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Forgotten Ones & Any Quintets.
Thu 25: Edgar Ho Trio @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Brilliant alto sax, piano & double bass trio. Unmissable!
Thu 25: 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 26: Finn-Keeble Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9:00.
Fri 26: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 26: Clark Tracey @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. £26.00. Day 1/2.

Sat 27: OUTRI @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £13.01. 1:00-1:45pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Richardson & Westgarth Sport & Social Club, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. Note change of venue.
Sat 27: House of the Black Gardenia + Magpies of Swing @ The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 2:15-3:15pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 3:45-4:45pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Rory Ingham @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 5:30-6:30pm. £19.51. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Ingham w. Dean Stockdale, Ian Paterson, Dave McKeague.
Sat 27: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 27: Laura Jurd @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £26.00. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Sat 27: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: Tim Kliphuis Trio @ St Mary’s Church, Wooler. 3:00pm. £18.00., £6.00. A Wooler Arts Summer Concerts event. Tim Kliphuis (violin); Nigel Clark (guitar); Roy Percy (double bass).
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: An Evening of Jazz @ St James’ Church, Copper Chare, Morpeth. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 from 01670 788869 or 01670 519923. Mid Northumberland Chorus (MD Robin Forbes, Emma Straughan, piano) w. jazz trio featuring Edgar Ho, Oscar Ho & Dave McKeague & special guest Emily Masser. Performance inc. Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass + George Shearing’s Songs & Sonnets.
Sun 28: Led Bib @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.00., £12.00. JNE.

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.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Album review/press release: Noah Stoneman - Anyone’s Quiet: Let It Rain to You

Noah Stoneman is undoubtedly one of the many outstanding young pianists to emerge from the music colleges/academies/conservatoires - call them what you will. Rather like a pop star who wins a TV talent show, they are instantly thrown into the deep end unlike it was, back in the old days, where they paid their dues in bars and clubs and gained their experience by listening to records and older musicians before getting their foot, or a least a couple of toes into the doors of such jazz meccas as Ronnie's, Pizza, 606 or Vortex to mention but a few.

This isn't a rant, it's an observation and I think that both the old school and the current intake could have benefited from each other's learning curve.

However, that's just a few of my thoughts on what is an appealing album. I've said too much already so I'll let the press release (of which I totally agree with) take over. Lance

Press release

Anyone’s Quiet: Let It Rain to You is the debut album from jazz piano prodigy and rising star composer Noah Stoneman.  At just 22 years old, Noah Stoneman has surpassed all expectation on his instrument of choice, clearly demonstrating an innate talent that could often take a lifetime to achieve. This is very much evident on Noah’s exciting new album - a captivating body of work that perfectly showcases the young pianist’s expertise in an exquisite light.

As a sideman, Noah Stoneman has lent his skill and vibrancy to a range of successful projects, most notably recording with the likes of Alex Hitchcock, Ferg Ireland and Jason Brown on the celebrated 2022 album ‘Dream Band’ (also featuring a plethora of other excellent and well-known artists). Having been a valuable contributor to the success of this project and many others, it is now time for Noah Stoneman to take centre stage, presenting his own work to the music media and discerning fans worldwide.

Anyone’s Quiet: Let It Rain to You features Stoneman’s trusted collaborators in the form of a core trio with Will Sach on double bass and Luca Caruso on drums. The album is produced by the renowned jazz pianist Kit Downes, who has in recent years been somewhat of a mentor to Stoneman. Downes’ involvement in the project provides a glowing endorsement of his belief that the young pianist represents the next generation of remarkable players.

Building upon and developing his studies at The Royal Academy Of Music, Noah Stoneman is undoubtedly adept at a wide range of musical idioms, taking influence from many different styles and genres of music both contemporary and traditional. The multi-faceted and open-minded nature of Noah’s approach can be clearly heard on the new album. Speaking on his approach, Noah comments: “This record is about finding moments of solace and quiet amongst noise. The creation of the album itself was a practise of self discipline, meditation, concentration and trust in the long-term for myself. My hope is that people can find some sense of quiet reflection or poetry in listening to it; that they embrace the ebbs and flows and trial and error of everyday life that the music speaks to.’ 

With recent performances at a wide range of leading music venues and festivals around the world, including Manchester Jazz Festival, La Petite Halle in Paris and Somersby Festival in Lisbon and much more ahead Noah Stoneman is undoubtedly a musician on the ascendance to a fulfilling and inspiring career. Anyone’s Quiet: Let It Rain to You is the best possible start to this journey a ‘real deal’ album brimming with sheer excellence.

Noah Stoneman - Piano/Compositions

Will Sach - Double Bass

Luca Caruso - Drums 

Produced by Kit Downes 

Engineered and Mixed by Sonny Johns at Livingstone Studios

Mastered by Peter Beckmann at Technologyworks studios

Track Listing:

1.     Tomas and Terez 

2.     Borders

3.     Evanesce

4.     Calm

5.     Mourndoom

6.     Band Of Brothers

7.     Postlude

8.     Strands

9.     Major

Released By Fresh Sounds Records. Catalogue No:  FS649

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