Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Burandanga @ Hoochie Coochie April 18.

Gemma Hutton/Belinda Voshtina (vcls); Alan Law (pno); Ian Simpson (gtr); Katy Trigger (bs); Paco Rivera/Carlos Rivera (perc.).
(Review by Lance).
Good Friday, Bad Friday, Any Friday "The Toon" is overrun with packs of hunters and predators roaming the streets in search of watering holes and mating opportunities. Those hoping to score for something more stimulating may have been drawn to Hoochie Coochie who were advertising Burundanga Free!
However, it wasn't the drug Burundanga but the band known as Burundanga.
The drug is said to be an anti-depressant and, take it from me, so is the band!
It was party night and the floor was awash with cha-cha-charing, mamboing, rhumbaing, bossa novaing couples letting it all hang out to the infectious rhythms of South and Central America. Maracas were dished out amongst the audience to add to the pulse rates that were increasing by the second. Cocktails may have been 2 for the price of 1 but the adrenaline was available for free.
Vocalists Gemma and Belinda sang in Spanish or was it Portuguese? which was great - vocals in a foreign language come across as a form scat singing. The cousins Rivera excelled in a manner similar to their recent performance at the Bridge with the Havana Club 5. Simpson, Law and Ms Trigger kept the party aglow with some inspired soloing making this a truly  Cuban Carnival. Indeed Alan Law is starting to look like a Cuban national!
Catch them at Darlington's Voodoo Café next Friday as part of the Darlo Jazz Festival.
Lance.

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