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

Friday, April 16, 2010

Swing City Trio @ Blaydon

Steve Andrews (ten/penny whistle), Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl), Roy Cansdale (bs).
This was one of those nice jazz in miniature gigs in the club lounge. Roly always describes the lounge as cosy - a description that could equally apply to the music. 
Salon jazz of the highest order.
A host of quality standards both vocal and instrumental. In the latter category I Wished on the Moon stood out - it always does for me - Roly's gentle croon bringing to mind his faves Crosby and Bowlly. A first timer was Berlin's Say It Isn't So with Steve rhapsodising a la Hawkins on tenor and Roly successfully walking the vocal tightrope as he did once or twice tonight. All, I hasten to add without mishap.
These day he seems to like playing acoustically into a mic which, to avoid feedback, means low level volume. In other words, if you want to hear it you've gotta listen!
Steve fluctuated back and forth from tenor to clarinet and, on one occasion, penny whistle! - Tishomingo Blues no less. He blew well from the opening Gone With The Wind to the closing Lester Leaps In with Body and Soul and Stars Fell on Alabama, Honeysuckle Rose in which Roly sang the verse just some of the others.
Holding it all together, anchor man, Roy Cansdale, proved that even anchors have hearts with some soft and gentle solos.
If someone had dropped a pin it would have been like a Buddy Rich explosion!
Grand evening.
Lance.

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