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

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).

Tue 07: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, August 01, 2024

David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band livestreaming from Birdland, NYC - July 31

Joe Boga (trumpet); Jim Fryer (trombone, tuba, vocals); Nathan Tokunaga (clarinet, alto sax); Arnt 'Arnie' Arntzen (banjo, guitar, vocals); David Ostwald (tuba); Alex Roderman (drums) 

David Ostwald has lead his Louis Armstrong Eternity Band for twenty four years. Every Wednesday, without fail, for many a year here at Birdland, NYC, the band's midweek, late afternoon slot is invariably a sell out. Thanks to NYC debutant Nathan Tokunaga, this week's performance was no exception. At seventeen, the Californian schoolboy is a star in the making. Tokunaga, clarinet and alto sax, small in stature, looks somewhat younger than he is and standing alongside seasoned musicians the generation gap was there for all to see.     

From the set opener, When it's Sleepy Time Down South, to the set closer, Swing That Music, this was a hugely enjoyable 75 minutes. Bandleader David Ostwald has a nice line in patter: a dry wit, casually engaging with his audience, a stock of well-honed one-liners at his fingertips. The jazz? Top drawer. Would Joe Boga nail Armstrong's imperious trumpet playing on West End Blues? You bet! Great! 

Classy banjo player Arnt 'Arnie' Arntzen sang one or two numbers, Stardust a particular highlight. Jim Fryer, once of the Classic Jazz Party, is what you could call 'good value', an excellent trombonist, a handy tuba payer (a fun tuba duet with Ostwald on Ice Cream) and occasional vocalist. Swinging drummer Alex Roderman is frequently on this Birdland gig and this afternoon's session illustrated his all-rounder status. 

NYC debutant Nathan Tokunaga was the focus of attention. For the duration, playing clarinet and occasionally alto sax, the teenager's mature sound and sound technique beggared belief. Already gigging across California, this visit to the Big Apple has seen Tokunaga sitting-in at Jon-Erik Kellso's Ear Inn gig, livestreaming with Rossano Sportiello and participating in JALC's Summer Jazz Academy. And now, Birdland! Check out Tokunaga playing alto sax on Jubilee Stomp! Russell                 

Set list: When it's Sleepy Time Down South; Indiana; West End Blues; Sweet Sue*; The Weary Blues; Black and Blue; Stomping at the Savoy; Ice Cream; Stardust*; Jubilee Stomp; Home*; Swing That Music**.

* Arntzen voc.; ** Arntzen & Fryer vocs.

YouTube (starts about 3:30 mins in). 
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