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).

Thursday, May 09, 2024

Remi Coulthard-Boardman (vocals, guitar, piano), Stage 3 Final Recital @ Music Studios, Newcastle University - May 9

Remi Coulthard-Boardman (vocals, guitar, piano) + Ross Carbis (keyboards, guitar); Rhian Wilkinson (bass); Matt Connor (drums); Josh Scott (trumpet); Olly Styles (tenor sax); Conor Emery (trombone); Jessica Bartlett (backing vocals, percussion); Cara Britton (backing vocals); Chiara Todisco (backing vocals)

Seen and heard gigging around town, often at the Black Swan jam session, on this sunny Thursday afternoon in May, vocalist Remi Coulthard-Boardman was to present his Final Recital. Arriving at the Music Studios on Assembly Lane, the basement space was buzzing in anticipation. All seats taken, Remi took to the stage with his nine piece band. Over the course of forty minutes or so we witnessed a soul-blues performance of the highest calibre. 

Beginning with Moondance, Remi's programme notes read: [Moondance] provides a nice platform for me to showcase the dynamic range in my voice...And what a voice! If you're into soulful blues, Remi and his ace band is the band to hear. Accompanying himself on guitar or keyboards, it's the voice that does it. Working with a rhythm section, horn section and three top-notch backing vocalists was a good move. Stevie Wonder's Master Blaster (Jammin') typified Remi's set, as did Prince's Kiss (Remi's notes cheekily referring to this afternoon's audience which would, perhaps, enter into some audience participation:...hopefully a room full of academics can click [their fingers] at a steady tempo.). 

Tracy Chapman's 1999 live version of Give Me One Reason, featuring Eric Clapton, enabled Remi to showcase his guitar playing and, generously, spotlighting the vocal talents of Jessica Bartlett (one of Remi's three backing singers). Remi closed his recital with the second of two original compositions, A Little More Light.. Suffice to say, it wasn't out of place, not one bit. 

Remi Coulthard-Boardman's recital transcended the 'examinee-under-pressure' scenario, this was a 'sit-up-and-take-notice' performance of astonishing maturity. A great voice, a real presence, Remi CB is the 'real deal'. Russell                    

Set list (* original composition): Moondance; Material Love*; Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do); Master Blaster (Jammin'); Easier Said Than Done; Losing You; Kiss; Give Me One Reason; A Little More Light*.
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