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.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

CD Review: The Jive Aces - King of the Swingers.


Jan Clarkson (vcl/tpt/uke); John Fordham (ten/vln); Alex Douglas (tmb/washboard); Vince Hurley (pno); Ken Smith (bs); Peter Rowell (dms); + Rebecca Grant (vcl) + Kenny Ball (tpt/vcl); Ray Gelato (ten/vcl); Toni Elizabeth Prima (vcl); Marco Palos (alt); Hossam Ramzy (perc); The Flirtinis (vcl group).
(Review by Lance)
King of the Swingers is an appropriate title for this disc as indeed it is for the Jive Aces themselves and of course the original King of the Swingers - Louis Prima for whom this CD is a salute to. Just as they took the Customs House, South Shields, by storm last Friday they repeat the achievement on disc in my own house!
Toni Elizabeth Prima, daughter of Louis Prima and Keeley Smith (Keeley and I share the same birthday!), joins the band for Bring Me Sunshine. That Old Black Magic, King of Jive and I'll Be Seeing You. To add to the authenticity, altoist Marco Palos from Louis Prima Jr.'s Band is also featured. Kenny Ball chips in on The Sheik of Araby and I Wanna Be Like You has Ray Gelato on tenor. Rebecca Grant who was so sensational at the Customs House is equally enjoyable here on Nothing's Too Good For My Baby and Hey Boy! Hey Girl!
However, despite all the guests, the six Jive Aces are at the heart of it all and somehow they manage to capture the excitement of a live performance in the studio - not always an easy task.
The CD is available at gigs or from Amazon. More info.
Lance.

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