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.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Maine Street Jazzmen @ Rosie Malone's South Shields.

Herbie Hudson (tmb/hca/vcl), Derek Fleck (clt), Malcolm Armstrong (pno), Alan Rudd (bs), Ian Forbes (dms), Olive Rudd (vcl).
Well, now I know why Ian Forbes didn't hang around at the Chilli - he obviously wanted to have a good night's sleep ahead of today's demanding session at Rosie Malone's - not.
Like the Northumberland Tennis Club, this too is a new jazz venue albeit they are poles apart and I don't mean in distance. Having said that, I did notice a couple of characters hanging around outside who looked as though they may have been involved with the rackets. Closer inspection revealed them to be Traffic Wardens. They were rubbing their hands with glee at a Transit parked on a double yellow.
Back to the music. The Mainestreeters proved one thing - you don't need a trumpet to play traditional (ish) jazz. The two man frontline alternated melody and soloed with no lack of vigour.
Herbie, frequently favouring a plunger mute, and Derek, facile and inventive.
Herbie also had the 'Hohner 270' in action; his wailing on "See See Rider" could have come straight from an oldtime Chicago bluesman.
Behind the horns, Malcolm Armstrong played his own brand of Stride and Barrelhouse, Ian proved that his early night was worth it whilst Alan Rudd showed that there is more than one "Bass Ace" on the scene.
Olive Rudd's vocals kept things lively scoring Dix Point with "I Double Dare You", "Smiling (When You're,)" and "All of Me" among others.
An enjoyable afternoon that would have been enhanced by a few more jazzers in the audience; after all, it's only a ferryboat ride from the Porthole.
Lance.

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