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.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Redemption Jazz/Take it to the Bridge - Wednesday June 27

Redemption: John Hall (ten); Jim Hall (keys); Keith Tulip (bs); Martin Wake (dms). 
Take It To The Bridge: Dave Weisser (flug/vcl); Paul Gowland (ten); Ray Truskett (bs); Barrie Ascroft (keys); Norman Redhead (dms).
(Review by Lance).
After I reviewed a previous gig by Redemption I remarked that a ballad wouldn't have gone amiss 'midst the Wham Bang Thank You Mam approach. Lo and behold, this time around they obliged with what John Hall described as "Nearly a ballad" - Free Lance!
Yes, alongside Basie's Panassie Stomp (dedicated to Hughes Panassie) and MJQ's Delauney's Dilemma we now have Free Lance - I'm humbled to be in such exalted company. 
Almost a ballad is a good description as, had he been alive, I couldn't quite see Johnny Mercer penning a lyric to it.
Nevertheless, I'm delighted to have been given this "Honour" and hope it's included on a future CD.
The rest of the set  was hard driving, modern bebop plus - these guys play like tomorrow was yesterday.with John Hall's prodigious tenor in F1 mode and not taking any pit stops.. It almost left me breathless which is a cue to bring in Paul Gowland who did indeed play You Leave Me Breathless. This was superb ballad playing with just a touch of contemporary angst to stir things up. Paul's approach is lighter than John's which made for good contrast.
Interestingly, both bass guitarists favoured a six string bass with Tulip's having a neck slightly longer than a giraffe's.
Dave played some nice flugel - cool and mellow whilst Norman whose normal role is that of doorkeeper played drums keeping time adequately which kept things swinging.
It was a good evening with the 62 bus (14 and 44 minutes past) linking up nicely with the number 27 at Monument.)
Photos.
Lance.

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