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, June 20, 2013

Take it to the Bridge @ The Chillingham. June 19, 2013

Dave Weisser (trumpet, flugelhorn & vocals), Peter Hepplewhite (clarinet), Jack Courtney (trumpet), Barrie Ascroft (keyboards), James Creswick (electric bass) & Norman Redhead (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Clarinetist Peter Hepplewhite called the first number, a stately take on Misty featuring a round of solos and a vocal from bandleader Dave Weisser. Autumn Leaves introduced a new voice, that of trumpeter Jack Courtney. Of the new generation, the trumpeter took a muted solo with no little confidence and it was down to Weisser to pluck the lyrics from his memory bank of tunes.
On Green Dolphin Street proved to be unfamiliar territory for some but Weisser’s workshop set-up ensured all came out the other end unscathed; Hepplewhite stepped up, Weisser switched to flugel and Courtney hit the mark. Easy Living held no fears with all keen to grab a piece of the action - clarinet, trumpet, keyboards (mainstay Barrie Ascroft), flugel and vocals from DW, five string bassist James Creswick  and the man at the back - drummer Norman Redhead - kept them in order.
A first pint (Firebrick from Blaydon) hadn’t travelled well, so an interval refill called for a reliable brew - none better than Jarrow’s Rivet Catcher. Dave Weisser told tales - with photographic proof - of great days on the cruise ships, raffle tickets were snapped up and in no time we were treated to more Nostalgia (the tune that is) with Weisser’s flugel leading off, Courtney (mute left on the floor), Hepplewhite (clarinet), Ascroft’s crafted contribution and Creswick’s nimble fretwork. Falling in Love with Love did the rounds - more impressive work from Courtney and no surprise that Dave Weisser knew the lyrics, just like that. A relaxing session on a warm night at the Chilli. Oh, your reviewer won the raffle - two volumes of Duke Pearson. Oh, yes! 
Russell.            

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