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

From This Moment On

March

Mon 30: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 30: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Struttin' With No Barbecue - Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Corner House

Peter Wright (tpt), Laurance McBriarty (tmb), Gavin Lee (clt/alt.sop), Brian Bennett (bjo/gtr), Brian Sibbald (bs), Fred Thompson (dms/vcl).
Another day at the office for the Vieux Carré Jazzmen who strutted their tried and tested formula before a well attended Corner House - perhaps they, the audience, thought it was this week for the banquet!
Then again it could be the return of Peter Wright or the guest appearance of Gavin Lee - hero of yesterdays action at Roker Park.
Tonight, Gavin supplemented his armoury with alto and soprano and played some nice things. "Sleepy Time Girl" had the relaxed feel that a tune of that title demands and Gavin did it justice. "Petite Fleur" is one of those tunes that have been done to death but, being a request... Gavin cut it okay on soprano playing very much in the Bechet mode.
Fred sang "Embraceable You" and Brian wisely exchanged banjo for guitar.
A tune I'd never heard before, "Tuck Me Up in my Old Kentucky Home" proved to be a delightful thing that bore no resemblance to the similarly titled Stephen Foster tune.
The VC have a wartime gig at Frosterly coming up and they honed up "The White Cliff's of Dover" in readiness for the invasion. I wasn't sure whether to clap my hands or stand to attention and salute.
AC2 Lance.

1 comment :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

I got to the Corner House in time to catch the last fifteen minutes of the Vieux Carre's gig. Gavin Lee was playing at the top of his game(to huge applause).

Russell

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