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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My Heart Belongs to Darlo! PAUL EDIS SEXTET at OPUS 4 JAZZ CLUB (The Travellers’ Rest, Darlington)

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass), Adam Sinclair (drums), Chris Hibbard (trombone), Graham Hardy (trumpet/flugel), and Graeme Wilson (sax) Our first time at Opus 4 and what a great atmosphere: a friendly welcome; a big room well-populated with people who know their jazz; a half-time raffle; massive photos of jazz greats looking down approvingly from the walls and (a final attraction?) cask “Magnet” on in the bar! And then there’s the music…. The band’s talent as arrangers was showcased by the opening My Heart Belongs to Daddy (arr Mick Shoulder) which was followed by Graham Wilson arrangements of Autumn in New York and Una Poca Loca. Later it was back to Mick for his arrangement of Softly – as in a Morning Sunrise, during which he worked up a sweat on one of the best received solos of the evening. Elsewhere, Chris Hibbard featured prominently on Being With You and the beautiful Black Orpheus and the band as a whole (their talent as musicians was showcased all night!) did justice to In a Sentimental Mood and Out of Nowhere. There was a lot of fresh material tonight – at least four originals from Paul getting a first airing, as far as I know. Dedicated to jobsworths the world over, the “New Orleansy” (Paul’s words) Administrate This! featured pumped up bass from Mick, a muted trumpet solo from Graeme, and Adam being turned loose near the end to shake the windows and rattle our brains! Put a Lid On It was “Monk inspired” and, after a quirky piano intro, featured solos from Graham, Graeme and Paul. The “African influenced” Sharp 9/8 (sorry, Paul if I heard that wrong!) was infectiously rhythmic with outstanding drumming from Adam throughout and a scorching solo from Graham Wilson. The final number, Blues for Dad, gave everyone a chance to strut their stuff and ended with cries of “more!” which were rewarded with a “kamikaze” blast of Graham Wilson’s Up Late by way of an encore. WOW! Not sure what the Shadows were on about all those years ago with Stars Fell on Stockton – if it’s jazz you want, go to Darlo!

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