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.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Where is Al Gay?

Terry wants info on tenor saxist Al Gay (see NEW COMMENTS - OLD POSTS - left hand. column.). Can anyone oblige? Is he still alive?. Googling only brings up items related to his surname.
Someone out there has the answer - hopefully Al himself.
Lance.

6 comments :

john harvey said...

Earlier today I was at the 100 Club in London's Oxford Street for a Tribute Session remembering Stan Greig; one of the bands appearing was the London Jazz Small Band, a smaller version of the big band Stan used to lead at the 100 Club some years back, and in which Al Gay was one of the sax section - I asked several members of the band if they had any news of Al and was told that he had died, perhaps as much as 7/8 years ago, although I have no trace of an obituary

Anonymous said...

Al Gay died on 13 October 2013.

Lance said...

Thank you anonymous. Because of the confusion as to his death in the past it would be appreciated if you could substantiate this sad news.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, it was 12 October 2013 - last Saturday. I know his daughter Sandra. He died at a nursing home in Luton. You can check by contacting the registry office in Luton. His death was registered by his daughter yesterday.

Lance said...

Thanks A, good to have the info confirmed. Sad that Al was so apart from the jazz world that no one knew about him
Pass on our condolences to Sandra and tell her that many of us in the jazz world remember Al as a fine musician.

Anonymous said...

To let you know Al gay passed this week.

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