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.

Monday, May 05, 2014

Firebird Quartet @ The Bridge. May 4









Ian Chalk (trumpet); Martin Longhawn (piano); John Marley (bass); Tim Carter (drums).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
This was a stormer! Four York based musicians at the top of their game (and who's to say they won't get even better still - Longhawn and Carter are still just in their mid-twenties) delighted Sunday's Splinter audience with a program of originals and standards performed with much originality. Nature Boy done over a Cuban rhythm, Sonny Rollins' Blue Seven given an easy relaxed swing feel. Chalk has that beautiful fat sound personified by such as Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown and Freddy Hubbard. Tone wasn't sacrificed for technique nor vice versa - the perfect balance. On the Rollins piece the trumpet player used Chris Calver's pint glass for a growl chorus. Chris, who was sitting at the front table nearest the stage beamed with delight. The glass, I hasten to add, was empty!
John Marley has made many trips to Tyneside and most of us are familiar with his, backbone of the band, bass playing. Longhawn too is not unknown in these parts and his solos and support were superb.
However, drummer Carter was the surprise package. I think most present were unfamiliar with the name - they aren't now!
Straight down the middle swing, complex Latin rhythms, contemporary jazz/rock feel he does 'em all. Is he from York down the A19 or the newer version across the pond? He may well be one day.
Yes this was a good session...
Lance.

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