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.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

CD Review: Kristian Borring Quartet - Nausicaa.


Kristian Borring (gtr); Arthur Lea (pno/Rhodes); Spencer Brown (bs); Jon Scott (dms);Will Vinson (alt - on 3 tracks).
This is a little gem that repeated listening only serves to make it grow on me more.
Contemporary Bebop, based on the legend of the beautiful princess Nausicaa who, it would seem, helped Odysseus on his journey in Homer's Odyssey. Well, when a beautiful princess is so helpful she deserves to be remembered musically and Danish guitarist Borring does just that. Listening to Invisible Lady, Nausicaa's beauty is conveyed by Borring's soulful portrait. Lithe and radiant is how it has been described and it certainly is. Superbly supported by Arthur Lea's sensitive piano-work the disc is a delight to be heard. On three tracks, New York based London altoist Will Vinson augments the quartet and his post-bop sound and phrasing is a welcome edition - he swings in the manner of Pepper. Criss, Morgan.
The band do a mini tour in November starting at Dempsey's in Cardiff (Nov 2) where you can get in for a fiver! Four quid if you're of a certain age! Matt and Phred's Jazz Club in Manchester (Nov 3); Spice of Life, London (Nov11) then the actual CD launch on Nov 16 as part of the London Jazz Festival at the Green Man, Camden.
Highly recommended for lovers of jazz that's contemporary and accessible.
Lance.
PS: Bass and drums were PDG too!

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