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, December 16, 2009

If Destroyed Still True @ The Cluny. December 15th.

If Destroyed Still True: Tommy Evans (drums), Simon Kaylor (tenor & soprano saxophones), Simon Beddoe (trumpet & flugelhorn), Nick Tyson (guitar), Johnny Tomlinson (keyboards) & Seth Bennett (double bass). If Destroyed Still True, a young sextet, hail from Leeds. They are part of the Yorkshire city's hothouse collective known as LIMA. Last night was their first visit to Newcastle and it was an auspicious occasion - the tenth anniversary celebrations of Schmazz @ The Cluny.
Original composition is central to the ethos of a Schmazz gig and IDST brought a book full of band compositions: the principal composers, Tommy Evans (band leader and drummer) and guitarist Nick Tyson wrote for the collective sound of the sextet.
The opening number was plagued by sound difficulties yet, in no time, Charlie, Schmazz's resident sound engineer, had put things right to the satisfaction of the musicians.
One enduring 'difficulty' was the volume of the horns (Kaylor and Beddoe); too loud to appreciate fully the contributions of the bass and drums team of Evans and bassist Seth Bennett. The band sound was very much that of contemporary European jazz incorporating folk elements (Balkan to Celtic to English) and changing time signatures. Solos were shared around with genial keyboards player Johnny Tomlinson ranging from boppish runs to Bach-like counterpoint, Simons Kaylor and Beddoe played powerful sax (especially on tenor) and trumpet respectively. Nick Tyson, winner of a Parliamentary Jazz Award, exhibited an eclectic approach in his guitar playing and double bassist Bennett provided the highlight of the evening taking an exemplary solo on the final number.
The performance was well received by the partygoing audience. It won't be too long before IDST make a return visit.
Russell.

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