Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18469 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 333 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 27 ) 67

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

April

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Long/Remon/Zilker @ The Ship Isis, Sunderland. 7:00pm. £10.00. + £1.00. bf. Tom Remon plays Irish folk!
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Hackney Colliery Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £25.00.

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only).
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, March 18, 2024

The Saltburn Big Band @ Dorman’s Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - March 14

Dave Brock, Dan Chirniside, Tony Turne, Django Zazou (trombones); Kevin Eland, Adrian Beadnell, Colin Moore, Karen Jones (trumpets); Mark Toomey, Ellice Jones, Donna Hewitt, Andy Devine, Simon Jones (saxes); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Dave Archbold (keys); John Daniels (bass); Chris Murphy (drums); Darren Moore (congas); Bridget Metcalfe (vocals).

The 19 piece band, formed less than a year ago with Kevin Eland as MD, were making their second appearance at Dorman’s and are now firmly established and acknowledged as a first class big band.

Opening the night with their signature tune, Louis Ferras's composition Domino, the full big band sound and a fine tenor sax solo from Donna Hewitt, started the night in great style. A more relaxed Nice 'n' Easy with lovely trumpet from Kevin Eland was then followed by Bridget Metcalfe taking centre stage to show what a class singer she is with a fast swinging version of Lerner and Lowe's Almost Like Being in Love. In complete contrast Bridget then sang I Can't Get Started and Mark Toomey showed his alto sax skills with his solo and his subtle finish.

Catch as Catch Can with nice keyboard work from Dave Archbold, a soulful rendition of  Easy Street included a fine trombone solo from Dave Brock before Bridget was called on again to sing a great version of The Lady Is A Tramp and Fly me to the Moon.

Big band compositions of On Green Dolphin Street and Autumn Leaves were well played, followed by Bridget singing Neal Hefti's lovely ballad Girl Talk giving Paul Donnelly the chance to play a tasty guitar solo. Another vocal from Bridget - Just One of Those Things - brought the first set to a close.

Orilla Del Mar with the Latin rhythm being set by Darren Moore on congas, Chris Murphy on drums and John Daniels on bass started the second set, followed by When You're Smiling that included solos from Paul, Donna and Dave.

Two more vocal numbers from Bridget, Witchcraft and Good Morning Heartache then Out of Nowhere with nice sax work from both Donna and Mark.

More vocals from Bridget included They Can't Take That Away From Me, Girl from Ipanema and Cole Porter's Night and Day.

In an exciting big band style the Miles Davis composition Four was well played with fine tenor sax from Donna and appropriately enough trumpet from Kevin Eland.
Bridget was then meant to bring the night to a close with From This Moment On but an encore was demanded and was duly provided with Alan Brandt's well named That's All.

An excellent night of big band music enjoyed by the audience with Kevin as MD,  Django as MC and raconteur but most of all the enthusiasm and skills of the 18 musicians and of course Bridget's great vocals.

Thanks as usual go to the staff of Dorman’s Club for their ongoing help and support in running the jazz club nights. Ron Hampton

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