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.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Legohead @ Splinter @ The Bridge, Newcastle. September 13th.

Lloyd Wright (guitar), Jon Proud (electric bass) & David Francis (drums) The Legohead fan club was out in force last night to hear the trio play another gig in the soon to be refurbished upstairs room of the Bridge Hotel. Legohead write original material; distinctive and at times playfully quirky. The versatile David Francis develops endless rhythmic drum (and drum 'n' bass) patterns, bassist Jon Proud lays down assured Jaco inspired figures and the wizard of the fretboard, Lloyd Wright, is just that, a wizard of the fretboard.
Bunkers, Avon and From Out of the Ashes are now familiar numbers to Bridge regulars. Wright has, one could say, all the chords and more. Lyrical, swinging on occasion and a feast of fusion at his fingertips. Sometimes you get all this within a few bars, all done with panache and a smile. Broken Foot, Curve and a new tune The Fibonacci Effect drew deserved applause and the last tune of the night was the crowd pleaser Getaway Driver.
Legohead will be back at the Bridge, no doubt about it. Meanwhile, what will the refurbishment bring? Hopefully John Fitzgerald's, the pub company, will do little to the pub. The wonderful photographs of blues and r'n'b legends adorning the walls have been taken down ready for the decorators to move in. Perhaps this would be an opportune moment to think about replacing them with some images of jazz greats (regional, national and international) shot by some of the north east's best photographers. Photos from Adrian Tilbrook. Splinter @ The Bridge next Sunday (19th) features the extraordinary Eugene Chadbourne with Roger Turner and Andy Champion. Russell

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