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.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

CD Review: Bruno Heinen Sextet - Tierkreis.

Bruno Heinen (pno/music boxes); Fulvio Surgatà (tpt); Tom Challenger (tpt); James Allsopp (bs. clt.); Andrea Di Biase (bs); Jon Scott (dms).
(Review by Lance)
When I read the notes I was suspicious - a work by Stockhausen in 12 parts based on the signs of the Zodiac filled me with trepidation and my first thought was, who can I palm this off on? Fortunately I didn't, and it turns out be quite a delightful disc! The music boxes are incorporated sparingly and effectively, heads are melodic and the solos well within the bounds of comprehension.
Heinen is a sensitive player, classically trained but with a jazzman's ability to extract that extra something from the most unlikely source. Italian born trumpet player Surgatà, is now London based after having studied at Berklee in Boston and obtained a Masters at the Guildhall. His tone is full and at times melancholic. Very appealing sound.
Tenorist, Tom Challenger, is another Guildhall graduate. Warm, emotional, a player of considerable originality. Bass clarinettist, Allsop has occasional moments of insanity - Scorpio in particular - but otherwise he behaves himself drawing some rich melodic sounds from his chosen instrument. My own particular birth sign - Pisces - appeared to have Allsop playing a duet with himself (unless Challenger was playing a Bb clarinet?)
Most enjoyable - I may even start listening to Stockhausen himself.
CD Review: Bruno Heinen Sextet - Tierkreis. was launched at The Vortex on April 3, and is released on April 15.
Lance.

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