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, July 31, 2012

CD Review: Funkengruven - The Joy of Driving a B3 - Kevin Coelho.

Kevin Coelho (Hammond B3); Derek DiCenzo (gtr); Reggie Jackson (dms).
(Review by Lance Liddle).
Coelho is 16 years old! So what? Lots of kids are 16. The difference here is that this 16 year old can drive a B3 like McGriff, McDuff and Dr. Lonnie!
The young Californian started on piano aged 6 becoming hooked on the B3 sound after hearing Booker T's Green Onions when he was 11 and has progressed, via the 2011 San Jose Jazz Festival, to this, his debut album. As a point of interest, Coelho's back at this year's San Jose Festival on August 12

It's an impressive start, the title track, Funkengruven, written by the wunderkind himself lays down the ground rules - solid funk tailor-made for the B3. Pieces by Randy Masters, McJimmy - Coelho's tribute to one of his early influences - Otis Redding's Dock of the Bay, Dr Lonnie's Play It Back and a funky take on Cantaloupe Island keep the funk groove going but hey what's this?
Donna Lee! Miles' classic line played in unison by B3 and guitar in true bebop style. And that isn't all - dig the standards Tangerine and What's New? - real wee small hours material although nobody would sleep with Coelho on full throttle!
Of course, brilliant as the young man is, DiCenzo and Jackson help to up the ante with the former's guitar the perfect foil and although Coelho's driving the B3 it is Jackson doing the navigating - together they are a great team. The album was produced by Tony Monaco of Chicken Coup Records. Monaco, one of today's B3 masters, also donated his rhythm section to the project.
Funkengruven - The Joy of Driving a B3 - Kevin Coelho. Chicken Coup/Summit Records
Out now.
Lance.

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