Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Pete Roth Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm. Feat. Bill Bruford.

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Mama Terra @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £19.08 (inc. bf).
Wed 28: James Hunter Six @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £28.50. adv. Rhythm & blues.
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Album review: Linda Dachtyl - Full Steam Ahead (Chicken Coup Records)

Linda Dachtyl (B3, perc); Don Hales (guitar); Cary Dachtyl (drums, perc.) + Mark Donavan (tenor/alto sax, clarinet, tks 1,3,7,8,10); Ben Huntoon (trumpet tk 1); Pat Ankrom (perc. tk 1)

This one has been hanging around my door since July hoping to make the cut but, there always seemed to be a queue jumper - bit like a stranger from out of town trying to get served in a crowded local bar. Nevertheless, here we are and it turns out to be be quite an enjoyable listen. 

Linda and her husband Cary, from Columbus, Ohio, team up with Don Hales to make an excellent groove laden trio with some extra bite added by Donavan on tenor, alto (tk 8) and clarinet (tk 7) 

The material is mainly modern jazz standards with Linda and Don also contributing two originals each.

It's not an album that's going to change the world - if only! Still it's a nice comfort zone in which to enter and pack up all your cares and woes and leave them alongside your worries on the doorstep.

The final April in Paris isn't a thousand miles away from the classic Basie recording with Wild Bill Davis on Hammond - complete with the "on more time" finale. Miraculously, the combination of Hammond and Leslie speaker, guitar, drums, tenor and, of course Linda, almost outswings the Basie band!

If you're an organ buff then go Full Steam Ahead and check it out. Lance

Illumination; The Outsider; Roxy Strut; Full Steam Ahead (Last Train From Overbrook/Back on the Track); Lava Lamp Suite (A Man and a Woman/ My Little Boat/Promises, Promises); Caravan; Think of One; 'Round Midnight; April in Paris

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