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.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Lickety Split on The Concourse @ The Sage.

Eddie Bellis (tmb); John Hudson (ten); Alan Marshall (alt); Kevin Eland (tpt); Bill Brittan (pno); Alan Rudd (bs gtr); Roy Willis (gtr);  Paul Wight (dms).
Eddie Bellis can frequently be seen at The Sage selling icecream, cd's etc. you name it Eddie has sold it. However, tonight he was moonlighting at the same venue with his new band Lickety Split.
I'd heard good reports about the band and I'm pleased to say they weren't unfounded.
First impression was of 1950's West Coast reminiscent of the old Shorty Rogers sides.
Things moved up a gear with Four announced as a Miles tribute but Eland's solo wasn't Miles it was Fats Navarro and that is fine by me!
Marshall, on alto, had a Bud Shank/early Art sound whilst Hudson blew some nice boppy tenor.
Eland came to the fore again on Midnight Oil - a L'il Darlin' clone - that was as smooth and delicious as the title indicated.
Bellis nodded towards the season with a few Christmassy things including an inovative Silent Night, White Christmas and the final Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas which was a sumptuous arrangement that made for a nice finish.
It was a good gig although I would guess this wasn't the ideal setting. Still they are pros's and did a good job.
It wasn't the Gig of the Year by a country mile but it was still very enjoyable and I look forward to catching them again.
Lance.

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