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

18482 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 346 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 30 ) 80

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

May

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). SOLD OUT!
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. 4:00-6:00pm. 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.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 07: Robert Finley @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Excellent US falsetto soul/blues voice.
Thu 07: ALT @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker. Thu 07: Liam & Shayo @ The Globe , Newcastle. 8:00pm. £5.00. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.

Sat 09: SH#RP Collective w. Lindsay Hannon @ Church of Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00 (inc. a welcome drink). Advance booking essential. Bring own snacks, drinks to be purchased at ‘donations’ bar. All proceeds to charity. A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sat 09: East Coast Swing Band @ Jubilee Hall, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £10.00.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington - April 26

Durham Alumni Big Band: Shaune Eland (MD), Ian Robinson, Kevin Eland, Andrew Meadowcroft (trumpets); Alistair White, Terry O'Hern, Andrew Kirtley, Paul Gilson (trombones); Dan Johnson (alto sax), Steve McGarvie (alto sax); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax);  Barbara Fagan (tenor sax); Danielle Drew (baritone sax); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Dave Archbold (keyboards); Mick Shoulder (bass guitar, double bass); Stephen Fletcher (drums)

It had been quite a while since we last heard the Durham Alumni Big Band (October 2023, with guests Quentin Collins and Matt Roberts at Northgate United Reformed Church, Darlington). This sunny Saturday afternoon, standing on the corner of Skinnergate and Coniscliffe Road, the DABB shoehorned itself into Number One Bar. Good news! And Good News it was as the Alumni opened with Bob Mintzer's chart (as played by the Buddy Rich Band). 

The split level establishment in Darlington town centre doesn't offer the best sight lines, but hey, it's a gig. And what a good turn out, not least because it was an early (noon) start. Coffees, teas, beers, folk made themselves at home, they were there to listen to a top class big band being put through its paces by MD Shaune Eland. 

Steely Dan's Aja, Chuck Mangione's Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor, the latter featuring Ian Robinson's flugelhorn solo and Steve McGarvie's assured soprano sax solo, typical fare from County Durham's leading big band. The Alumni's charts are of a kind - 60s'/70s' compositions, long since staples of the big band repertoire. The Alumni boasts soloists in all sections - Richie Emmerson, Dan Johnson and Steve McGarvie (reeds), Andrew Meadowcroft and Ian Robinson (trumpets), Terry O'Hern and Andrew Kirtley ('bones) and the ace rhythm section (soloists all) - Paul Donnelly, Dave Archbold and Mick Shoulder, underpinned by the award-winning Stephen Fletcher.  

Trombonist Terry O'Hern's solo feature on Emily held the audience rapt, the trumpet section's flugelhorns in support. From Johnny Mandel to Don Ellis' Final Analysis. Was that a collective groan from the ensemble?! MD Eland warned the audience - and the band - that 'it might not go well'! They/we needn't have worried. In the 'final analysis', it went very well. The audience showed its appreciation. 

Dan Johnson featured on Wayne Shorter's El Gaucho (some twelve hours earlier Johnson was on stage at Gateshead's Glasshouse with Paul Skerritt), Ghostbusters served as the set's sing-along, if not dance-along, number, A Weaver of Dreams (pianist Dave Archbold, Dan Johnson and Ian Robinson's flugelhorn the features), Dave O'Higgins' New Orleans, the Alumni and the audience were enjoying themselves. The one set concert of some 75 minutes came to a close, rather aptly, with Closing Time.        

The DABB is a top class outfit, keep an eye on BSH for news of forthcoming gigs. Russell   

Set list: Good News; Aja; Alter Ego; Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor; Emily; The Road to Rack and Ruin; Final Analysis; El Gaucho; Ghostbusters; A Weaver of Dreams; ?; New Orleans; Closing Time. 

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