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

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Jazz Café Jam. July 22.

Steve Glendinning (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms). + Debra Mil;ne. Ann Alex, Ewa Szymczewska (vcls); Paul Scott (gtr/vcl); Paul Gowland (alt); Richard Herdman (gtr); Ray Truscott (bs); Johnny Davis (ten); Andy ? (ten) + ? (drums); ? (piano); ? (gtr) etc.
(Review by Lance).
The advertised Peter Gilligan was in Manchester so it was guitarist Steve Glendinning who took on the role of lynch pin 'twixt house band and jammers of which there were an abundance tonight.
The room too was crowded and the atmosphere was as sizzling as the setting sun outside. Too much to recall in detail.
Guitarists: Apart from Steve Glendinning, who was his usual immaculate self handling everything that was thrown at him, Richard Herdman also impressed and the numbers played together Have You Met Miss Jones for example really gelled. Another guitarist, who may have been with the hordes of younger folks (tourists?) who filled the room, also hit the spot with Chick Corea's 500 Miles High. Paul Scott not only played brilliantly but also sang I'll See You in my Dreams and Don't Blame Me - a touch of early Frankie Laine in his singing.
Singers: Apart from Scott, Debra Milne gave us Senor Blues, Ewa sang If I Were a Bell and I'm Beginning to See the Light and BSH's own Ann Alex sang I Got Rhythm and Imagination.
Saxes: Paul Gowland blew fiery alto and had a joust with tenorist Johnny Davis, himself no slouch, during the course of Senor Blues whilst another tenor player, Andy, joined the fray for Heather's vocals.
Drums: Paul Wight was, as always, driving the bus tonight but given some respite by an impressive young man. Ian Forbes was waiting in the wings but didn't hang around - possibly a song too far for him!
Bass: Paul Grainger on double bass alternated with Ray T on six string electric both adding their own individuality.
Piano: In the absence of Gilligan, the upright remained upright. One of the young visitors did sit in for Blue Bossa and, given the shortcomings of the instrument, did well.
There may have been other singers and instrumentalists that I've overlooked - it was one of those nights when everything seemed to be happening - my apologies also to those whose names I didn't catch.
It was a quite unique evening.
Lance.

1 comment :

KneelC said...

Post session one of the young visitors , a Greek gent, got up and played an accomplished mini set including a rendition of the Muppet Show opening theme and a sublime piece he claimed was from his Greek heritage . Unfortunately most of the crowd had left and they missed a real treat, it was worth missing your last bus for!

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