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, July 24, 2014

Peter Gilligan and Friends @ Hoochie Coochie

Peter Gilligan (keys); Mark Williams (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms).
(Review by Lance).
A funkyish set by four of the local favourites that deserved to be better attended raising the question as to why musicians don't support each other's gigs?
If they did, surely it would create more work all-round? It's not just a north east problem, other promoters and bloggers around the country have made similar observations. Some aspiring musicians don't even show up at jam sessions!
Think about it guys, you might even learn something, even if it's what not to do!
Rant over.
Kicking off with - was it Invitation? - the guys proceeded to unleash both the familiar and the unfamiliar with the latter in the ascendancy hence my failure to list tune titles!
Initially the audience comprised singer Lindsay Hannon (one musician who does get around)  and myself, the net result of which meant the empty spaces created a booming effect. However, come the second set, more bottoms were perched on seats and the sound became much more pleasing.
Tomorrow (Friday July 25) it's the Thomas Brown Affair - pianist Wayne Brown and singer Kenny Thomas provide a mix of jazz and soul that is already almost sold out.
Lance.

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