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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: The ’58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club, West Park, 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 18: Brand New Heavies @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Sunday, May 26, 2013

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ Sage Gateshead. 24 May 24, 2013

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston (Gtrs)
 (Review by Russell).
They were there in their hundreds, in every nook and cranny, every vantage point taken. Guitarists James Birkett and Bradley Johnston had certainly pulled a crowd for their gig on the concourse at Sage Gateshead. Alas, the drinking and chattering gave the game away...the hordes were there to attend performances in Halls One and Two. Most didn't listen and many of those seemed oblivious to the brilliance of the master and pupil duo. 
Two sets of bossas, waltzes, swingers and blues held the attention of the few. Dick McDonough and Carl Kress made a flying visit (Stage Fright), John Lewis waltzed in Skating in Central Park, so too Dave Brubeck (In Your Own Sweet Way). The clattering of plates, the clink of glass on glass, the I'm at the Sage mobile types did little to dampen the enthusiasm of performers and the listening few.
Pupil Bradley Johnston - Mr Johnston turned eighteen last week - played as if a veteran of the music; rhythm, time, solo invention. Dr Birkett played the part of the senior man in the partnership, confident of his partner's abilities, indeed the younger man frequently took the first solo. 
Jobim's Wave opened the second set just as the few waved goodbye to ticket holders filing into their respective halls. Joe Venuti (Johnston) and Eddie Lang (Birkett) arrived Stringing the Blues (Joe/Bradley swinging it, Eddie/James knocking out sophisticated bass lines). Time for Django - the place had quietened - time for Nuages. Great! Bill Evans contributed Waltz for Debby then it was Guitar Hero Time. Mr P.Metheny's Farmer's Trust impressed Birkett and Johnston as much as the listeners! McDonough and Kress returned briefly with Chicken a La Swing, an hors d'oeuvres to Billie's Bounce. Johnston really got into this one, a highlight of the evening. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better the duo signed off in some style with Chick Corea's Spain. James Birkett is an acknowledged virtuoso, Bradley Johnston's time will surely come.           
Russell.   
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