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.

Monday, December 05, 2011

Live Wire Unplugged @ The Cherry Tree

Karen Harding,vcl; Andrew Garner, pno/vcl; Richard Dudley, gtr; Stuart Davies, bs.
Atlantic Prawn and Crayfish Cocktail, Whisky Marie Rose and Buttered Brown Bread. This seemed as a good a place as any to start after my aperitif of Black Sheep ale. Both were delicious.
Being the Christmas Fayre menu I felt obliged to order Roast Turkey Breast, Roasted Roots, Sage and Onion, Roast Gravy and Mulled Cranberry Compote and it was a wise choice the unfortunate turkey just fell apart under my knife and went down a treat. What could possibly follow that save Home Made Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce. I'm not quite sure how a dish served in a restaurant can be described as 'home made' but nevertheless it too hit the taste buds right on the nose.
Which brings me to the music of which there isn't a lot to say.
Karen Harding is young, attractive and has, I think, a good voice. I say 'I think' as the sound could have been better and at times it was difficult to hear her above the accompaniment. This difficulty was exacerbated by the Christmas party bonhomie and the exploding crackers.
Carole King, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Adele and Alicia Keys were some of the contemporary singer/songwriters who were represented along with the inevitable Summertime.
I could only stay for the first set so hopefully the sound improved for the second.
Lance.

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