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.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Alan Glen Trio/Take It To The Bridge/Zoe Gilby

Alan Glen (pno), Lawrence Blackadder (bs), David Carnegie (dms).
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Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl), Darren Grainger (ten), Barry Ashcroft (pno), Mark Williams (gtr), Eric Stutt (dms). + David Carnegie (pno), Zoe Gilby (vcl).
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Every visit to the Chilli by the Alan Glen Trio produces something special and tonight was no exception although it was rather sad inasmuch as it marked the end of Lawrence Blackadder with the trio - he lives in Cumbria and the travelling is too much.
Nevertheless, all three were at the top of their game with a selection of tunes that would have delighted our lady from York (Liz). These included, "Have you Met Miss Jones", "It's You Or No One", a most ravishing version of "Skylark" and an uptempo "Love Letters" that owed nothing to Ketty Lester. Add Neal Hefti's "Shiny Stockings" and a few other tunes I couldn't put a name to and you have a set that enthralled from start to finish. The ease with which Alan executes the most complex phrases is truly awesome.
It goes without saying that, on his last night, Lawrence soloed superbly whilst David C, not content to solo and boot the whole thing along, later played piano with the Take it to The Bridge Boys giving Barry a break. Barry incidentally has been shorn of his locks and now looks a semi-cool dude. Another dude - a total dude - Mark Williams, who also went under the shears recently, had some fine moments on guitar. He really wailed on the final "Blues in F" ("Duane's Blues").
Eric Stutt socked it to the frontline - he's a rhythm machine with feeling - whilst Jim Crinson put in a good shift on bass, undeterred by Lawrence's performance or the fact that supremo Andy Champion was in the audience. Andy was with Hil and Zoe Gilby and Zoe lent her vocal chords to an excellent "Summer Samba" (or was it "So Nice"? or are they one and the same?).
Dave sang the verse to "Green Dolphin Street" as well blowing a nice, tightly muted, solo. Throughout their two sets Darren blew some lusty tenor. The Sam Jones' number "Unit 7" was made for his big sound
This was a top drawer night and with a decent sized audience (by Chilli standards) that included a few new faces.
Lance.

3 comments :

Hil said...

Hi Lance the song Zoe sang was

'Wave' written by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Lance said...

Whoops!

Liz said...

This "lady from York" would have been thrilled with all of those numbers. "Shiny stockings" I will always associate with Ella. Incidentally whilst waiting for the film to begin today in our city centre cinema, someone had put on the P.A. system a number by Sarah Vaughan..how rare!looking around I could tell I was the only one in that whole sweet rattling audience who appreciated it.
Liz

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