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, May 09, 2011

Frith St. @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond.

Zita Frith (vcl); Lloyd Wright (gtr); Phil Richardson (pno); Ian Paterson (bs); David Francis (dms). Despite the band being packed full of jazzmen the first set was more of  a cabaret performance - nothing wrong with that 'old chum' - life is a cabaret!
Ms Frith ran through a selection of gassers displaying her impeccable taste. Talking of taste, the Confit Chicken & Black Pudding Terrine with Sauce Gribiche was pretty impeccable too.
The Way You Look Tonight, The Candyman, Nice Work If You Can Get It (also applicable to the Rump of Lamb with Stewed Peppers & Grilled Black Olive Polenta) L-o-v-e and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B were just some of the songs sung so well.
After a Cherry & Chocolate Tart with Toasted Almond Ice Cream that was a dessert to die for I settled back to enjoy a second set that began with The More I See You and saw the band losing their inhibitions a little.
Particularly outstanding was Louis Jordan's Choo Choo Ch' Boogie done slow and bluesy with an almost sensuous feel to it. Lloyd cut loose a little here and piano man Phil also got his licks in. Let's Do It and then Loverman. Drummer Dave played this in '3's and it worked beautifully.
Ian, on bass, was sound throughout and all in all a pleasant and enjoyable evening.
Lance.

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