Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Andy Champion - HCW - Jam Session at the Side Café

The penultimate session of this season at the Side Café began with a compelling solo performance by Andy Champion on double bass. Andy has a futuristic vision that I must confess exceeds my musical horizons. Nevertheless, I appreciate his technique and applaud his involvement; perhaps one day I will have a deeper understanding and follow in the same direction; perhaps.
We were brought down to earth in the second set by the newly formed HCW:Hirst, Carr and Worsley. John Hirst (dms), Edd Carr (7 string guitar) and Cristos Worsley (bs). They opened up with an explosive downtown Chicago Night Owl Blues type number - all that was missing was a "My woman done gone an' left me" vocal - and continued with a series of, as yet unnamed, originals in a post jazz rock vein before culminating in an almighty mindblowing fusion of sound finale.
Powerhouse drumming, inventive guitar playing and basslines that didn't just walk but kicked ass doing it.
Great set.
Afterwards, I had the priviledge of chatting to a gentleman, and I use the word advisedly, whom I took to be Cristos' father; Johnny Worth, aka Les Vandyke who, apart from once singing with the Oscar Rabin Band also wrote many hit songs for Adam Faith and other stars from the 1950s onwards. Check him out here.
In the jam session that followed, Andy Champion was on drums, David Carnegie piano and Edd Carr guitar. Didn't catch name of bass player.
Photos

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