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.

Friday, March 08, 2013

Safe Sextet @ Hoochie Coochie. March 7.

Don Forbes (tpt); Paul Gowland (alt); John Rowland (ten); Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms).
(Review by Lance)
The Safe Sextet - once part of the Friday night furniture at the Jazz Café were fortunately overlooked by the Miller removal men on Wednesday so they will not be up for auction at the Sale Rooms.
This is a shame as, after tonight's performance, the bidding would be intense!
Wayne Shorter's One by One made for a rousing opener. Forbes' references to Cilla Black when announcing Rollins' Alfie's Tune probably meant little to the youngish audience although Rowland's Rollins-like cadenza of an intro certainly caught the attention of at least one of the older members of the audience (me). Gowland caught the ball running and easily converted Rowland's try.
Gershwin's Soon is a great arrangement - I wonder who did it? - with super solos all round. A Latin number brought a couple of dancers to the floor elegantly  tripping the light fantastic.
Blakey's Moanin' gave new drummer Armstrong a chance  to shine which he duly did but it was Gilligan who gave it the polish both soloing and 'comping.
The Emcee Five's The One That Got Away could have been tailor made for this group and Don and his "boys" did it justice. Come to think of it - The Safe Sextet is close to being a reincarnation of the Emcee Five and in the north east there is no higher accolade available.
Photos.
Lance.

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