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.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

CD Review: Hot Fingers - By a Waterfall.

Thomas 'Spats' Langham (gtr/bjo/uke/vcl); Danny Blyth (gtr/mand/clt/bs clt); Malcolm Sked (bass/tuba) + Emily Campbell (vcl); Mike Piggott (vln).
(Review by Lance).
Last night Hot Fingers wowed the Customs House (review to follow) and no doubt they will do the same tonight at Trinity Church and Centre, Gosforth.
By a Waterfall recorded in 2009 and released a couple of years later features the trio augmented by vocalist Emily Campbell and violinist Mike Piggott.
The addition of the Grappelli-like fiddle of Piggott gives a Djangolic aura to much of the CD which isn't dispelled by Langham's dexterous solos - he does Django to perfection executing those dazzling fingerlickin' runs so beloved of Hot Club exponents. And of course there are the Langham vocals - always exceptional. Blyth's support on rhythm guitar and mandolin adds to the evocative atmosphere of a club in1930s Montparnasse as does his all too rare bursts on clarinet. Sked is the backbone on either double bass or tuba keeping it all together.
Emily Campbell has a pleasant voice - not really a jazz voice - I get the impression of someone coming into the idiom from say the folk or traditional music world. Perhaps even a classical or theatre background. Nevertheless, she does it well and adds an extra dimension to a very listenable CD.
Lance.
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