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.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Jazz Dance in Hong Kong

From Hong Kong Colin Aitchison, leader of the China Coast Jazzmen long-time resident band at Ned Kelly's Last Stand in Kowloon, sent me some photos of the Victoria Jazz Band taken at another 'joint' - Grappa's.
Colin informs me that they are a swingy band playing Basie, Buck Clayton style arrangements with a large young following. He didn't supply any names.
What struck me most was that people were actually dancing and enjoying themselves!
Isn't that the way it should be?
When people stopped dancing to jazz the fun element disappeared and it became a pin-dropping exclusive exercise exorcising the eclectic and often the excitement and the ecstasy from the experience.
Lance.

5 comments :

Anonymous said...

HI Lance,

Yes, it is great to see young people dancing once again to good music, the line up of the band is John Hubbard (trumpet - UK) Oliver (Tenor Sax)!!!! - France, Bayani Balderverona (Alto Sax) - Philippines, Peter Lally (Piano) - UK, Steve Mui (Bass) - Japan, Tom Cord (Drums) - UK.

They started off with Blues Back Stage, and they were already on the floor...it seems that out here in Asia, the young go for any type of jazz, be it Trad, Swing, Be-Bop, Jazz Latin or Jazz Rock, and I've just heard that there is a new Trad venue in Macau.

Cheers
Colin

Lance said...

I wonder if Peter Lally is related to that much maligned arranger Jimmy Lally?

Lance said...

Guitarist is Ken Sugawara - Japan.
Thanks Colin.

HK Swings said...

And, the large young following is Hong Kong Swings, a group promoting swing and lindy hop. We're at Grappa's every Wednesday night and conduct classes and socials. See www.hongkongswings.com for more information.

HK Swings said...

And, the large young following is Hong Kong Swings, a group promoting swing and lindy hop. We're at Grappa's every Wednesday night and conduct classes and socials. See www.hongkongswings.com for more information.

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