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.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Pete Gilligan, Paul Grainger, Claire Kelly and Ray Truskett @ The Jazz Café

Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs/dms); Ray Truscott (bs); Claire Kelly (vcl).
Well, Pete didn't unveil his vibes and Adolph didn't turn up either (unless that was him behind the bar) but, nevertheless, Messrs Gilligan and Grainger delivered the goods - did they not!
I've never quite understood why the local jazz Mafia boycott the Café - Keith Crombie has provided a showcase for local jazzers to ply their wares and get much valued experience - Dave Weisser does a similar thing at The Chilli and the Godfathers show small support for that either.
Politics aside, Gilligan was in love - He Met Miss Jones, then there was Stella (by starlight), Alice (in Wonderland), Autumn (in New York) who he later Leaves.
Claire Kelly showed and, after a hesitant I've Grown Accustomed to His Face, rocked I Got Rhythm. Who could ask for anything more? Well we did and got Love Me or Leave Me. A question like that is a no-brainer!
The room had filled nicely by this time and Claire stepped down to allow the boys - Grainger was now on drums and Ray Truscott was threatening bass guitar - nobody threatens better!
Billie's Bounce, You Don't Know What Love is kept the pot boiling before Claire stepped back up.
Clare Fischer's  Morning, despite being a first public airing was okay, Mr Ugly - tried and tested Kelly but No More Clichés was a new one and it worked.
The Jazz Café (Pink Lane, Newcastle) is one of the cities treasures - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Lance.

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