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, July 09, 2009

Bob Caswell/Paul Gamblin /Jeremy McMurray Trio - Blaydon Jazz Club

Bob Caswell (vcl), Paul Gamblin (gtr), Jeremy McMurray (pno), Mick Shoulder (bs), Bill Shield (dms).
Ruth Lambert and Paul Gamblin were the attraction at Blaydon tonight. Unfortunately Ruth couldn't make it so that fine old trouper, Bob Caswell stepped into the breach at the last minute.
Bob has an easy laid back Sinatra style that was heard to advantage on "Pennies From Heaven", "Moonlight in Vermont", "Witchcraft", "There Will Never Be Another You", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Days of Wine and Roses" etc. The latter number had some mild scatting that even Angela could live with but, in the main, Bob's jazz credentials lie in his phrasing and re-shaping of the melody; things he does very well.
Paul Gamblin fitted in with the trio - both comping and soloing. "Satin Doll", "How High The Moon", "I've Got You Under My Skin", just some of the instrumentals, were all given good workouts.
On piano, Jeremy McMurray had an inspiring night playing as close to the top of his game as he's ever likely to get.
Mick Shoulder too had his moments whilst Bill Shield kept it all together with metronomic precision.
Somewhere along the way I won a bottle of wine in the raffle!
Roly has organised some grand events for the rest of the year so please show your support on this, the club's 25th year.
Lance
Photo courtesy of Eddie Carson.

1 comment :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

I'm in whole-hearted agreement-the region's jazzers should get themselves along to Blaydon on a regular basis. Play the CDs mornin', noon and night but go, go, go to gigs. Keep Music Live, as they say!

Russell

Blog Archive