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 26, 2014

Five Blind Boys of Alabama/North East Gospel Choir @ Sage Gateshead May 25.

Multiple choices on this bank holiday Sunday. Stacey Kent at the Customs House, Slowlight Quartet at the Star and Shadow, NE4 at the Bridge and the Five Blind Boys From Alabama at Sage Gateshead. I opted for the latter gig which wasn't, perhaps, my best ever decision.
Don't get me wrong - they do what they do do brilliantly and it was much appreciated by the sparsely populated Hall One - just wasn't my thing!
Earlier, the North East Gospel Choir gave a spirited performance. Leader Sharon Durant, apart from being an inspiring conductor, also indicated that she is a fine singer in her own right. Like to hear more of her.
Lance.

1 comment :

Hugh said...

Should have gone to Customs House!

Although to be fair, "This multilingual project is a natural progression of Stacey Kent’s musical journey, and will no doubt appeal to her established international audience*. However, it is unlikely to satisfy those who prefer more vocal dynamism and improvisation." (http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/cd-review-stacey-kent-changing-lights.html#more),

For those of us who are 'among that number*' it was a tour de force.

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