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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Heritage Hall Stompers @ Central Park (Gosforth).

Gavin Lee (clt), ? (tpt), Terry Harvey? (bjo), ? (dms). Never having resided in Gosforth directions had to be asked. Now, ask anyone how to get to Central Park and they are going to say, "Take the Subway to Columbus Circle or 59th Street." This didn't actually happen to me when I posed the question to a Gosforth resident but it would have done had the positions been reversed.
As it happened, the question became academic as I could hear, in the distance, a trumpet calling the chillun' home to the strains of "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
As a four piece, the Heritage Hall were a few stompers short of les tout ensemble I was expecting but, nevertheless, the musicians played an entertaining, foottapping program with such old standbyes as "Basin Street Blues", "Big Butter and Egg Man", "Darktown Strutters Ball" and "Sentimental Journey" to name but a few.
Gavin Lee sounded not unlike Irving Fazola and, with his braces stretched somewhat across his midriff, even bore a resemblance to the old New Orleans master.
The trumpet player had some tasty moments whilst banjo and drums handled the responsibilities of a bassless rhythm section admirably.
Eating icecream and listening to jazz on a hot summer's day has much to recommend it.
Lance.

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