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, November 19, 2012

CD Review: Hot Club of Cowtown - Rendezvous in Rhythm

Elana James (fiddle/vcl); Whit Smith (gtr/vcl); Jake Erwin (bs).
(Review by Lance).
Coming hot on the heels of last night's concert at The Sage this CD  is  an  item to savour, not least because, for me, it displays their  jazz   side  -  Gypsy  Jazz  that is - as  opposed  to  their Western Swing. The evocation of the 1920's and  1930's  is  all around  and  there  is  the  mystical  presence  of  Django   and Stephane hovering above the speakers like guardian angels.
Add  the   engaging vocals  of James and  Smith  and  you  are transported to Montmartre or a café on the left bank. That they are three Americans singing in English doesn't take the ambience away if anything it enhances it. 
Elena swings like crazy - fiddling while Jake burns it up on slap. Whit knows his way around the fretboard fitting easily into the genre showing respect without imitation
When Elana sang I'd Like to Get You on a Slow Boat to China I was on the phone to Thomas Cook before the track was over! Sadly, they didn't have any boats, fast or slow, going to China today.
Tracks: Dark Eyes, I'm in the Mood for Love (vcl WS), Crazy Rhythm (vcl EJ), Avalon (vcl WS), If I Had You (vcl EJ), The Continental (vcl WS), Minor Swing, Melancholy Baby (vcl EJ), I'm Confessin', Sweet Sue (WS), Slow Boat to China (vcl EJ), Sunshine of Your Smile, Back in Your Own Backyard (vclEJ), Douce Ambience.
Hot Club of Cowtown - Rendezvous in Rhythm is available from www.raucousrecords.com - highly recommended for hot club devotees or those who like their melodies to go with a swing.
Lance.
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