Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Sunday, August 23, 2026

From Walker With Love - Ralph Hutchinson

Researching for more information on Walker-born trombonist Ralph Hutchinson I came across this Storyville album on BANDCAMP of 1953/4 radio broadcasts from the Club Hangover in San Francisco by Muggsy Spanier with Ralph on trombone.

Ralph holds his own with the illustrious names surrounding him and has an extended feature on Basin St. Blues.

The 1953 line-up: Muggsy Spanier (cornet); Darnell Howard (clarinet); Ralph Hutchinson (trombone); Mel Grant (piano); Truck Parham (bass); Barrett Deems (drums).

1954: As above with Red Richards replacing Grant and Coz Coseneau replacing Deems. 

Dixieland at its best. Lance

1 comment :

Peter Bevan said...

According to Tom Lord's online Jazz Discography Ralph appears on 19 recording sessions, 17 of them with Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers between 1951 and 1955.

One session, from 4 September 1954, is on Avid AMSC695 (Muggsy Special);
Four sessions are on the French Chronological Classics series 1404 (Muggsy Spanier 1949-1954);
Four more on Acrobat ADDC3095 (Muggsy Spanier's Ragtime Band - Live at Club Hangover, San Francisco 1953-54). Some of these may overlap with the Storyville issue you listed through Bandcamp;
A 1955 broadcast is on American Music AMCD-109 (Muggsy Spanier in New Orleans [sic] ) although Ralph isn't featured much on this one.

The only two later recordings in Tom Lord are a 1958 session with Bob Scobey & His Frisco Jazz Band (Feelin' the Spirit, Sounds of Yesteryear, DSOY 817) and a 1980's session "In Concert with the Basin St. Saloon Band but it looks as if that might only be available on an LP issued by the band themselves.

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