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.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Press release: Royal Albert Hall announces autumn series of Late Night Jazz

Following two sold out seasons earlier this year, the Royal Albert Hall returns with its third series of Late Night Jazz for 2024. From gospel and swing to ‘60s soul jazz and funk influences, the autumn season continues to highlight the diverse and vibrant jazz scene emanating from the London jazz scene.

Kicking off the Elgar Room-based series, Sounds Queer have curated a selection of performers with drag pianist Barbs and futuristic soul singer songwriter and DJ Shivum Sharma set to appear on Thursday 3 October, while surprise guest performances and a DJ set from Sounds Queer co-founder Toby Corton will round off the night. Sounds Queer champions and prioritises diverse voices and sounds from the LGBTQIA+ spectrum through live music events, having previously produced shows with Rich Mix, The Roundhouse and Mighty Hoopla festival.

 

Due to popular demand, David Kofi will return on Thursday 24 October with his blend of gospel, soul and R’n’B-tinged jazz, following his sold out debut performance in February 2023. This performance spawned his Live at Late Night Jazz Royal Albert Hall EP, released last summer, and has since gained airplay from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Soho Radio and Times Radio.

 

Comprising award-winning singers Georgia Cécile (Jazz FM Artist of the Year), Lucy-Anne Daniels and Peter Horsfall, London-based vocal trio Flight Call will bring the month to a close by showcasing their love for jazz, soul and gospel in their original arrangements on Thursday 31 October, with influences ranging from ‘60s soul-jazz legends Les McCann and Andy Bey to the deep-funk sounds of D'Angelo and James Brown.

 

November sees the annual London Jazz Festival return to the Elgar Room on Thursday 21 November with four performers taking to the stage. Violinist and vocalist Claire Victora Roberts, bass improviser Caius Williams, drummer/composer Momoko Gill and saxophonist Helena Kay all take part in Take Five, the festival’s flagship talent development programme for emerging jazz and improvising musicians.

 

December sees the return of popular Christmas show Jazz at the Movies on Wednesday 11 December, where acclaimed singer Joanna Eden teams up with the groovy sounds of the Chris Ingham Quartet to perform a selection of festive swing and jazz favourites. The following night, on Thursday 12 December, Michael Sutton will be closing the season with a special Relaxed Late Night Jazz performance, where the less formal environment may particularly benefit autistic people, those with dementia or learning disabilities. Michael recently released his debut album Those Leftover Dreams.

 

Matt ToddDirector of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said: “It’s great to see our Late Night Jazz series going from strength to strength with each passing year. This latest series not only gives a platform to new and exciting acts like Flight Call and London Jazz Festival’s Take Five initiative, but sees alumni David Kofi and Jazz at the Movies returning, having both provided some of our favourite Late Night Jazz shows in recent years. Partnering with Sounds Queer and Michael Sutton will also open the series up to new communities, and it’s a real privilege to see these shows reaching more diverse audiences.”

 

Tickets for all Late Night Jazz shows are available from the Royal Albert Hall website.

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