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

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.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Tonight at 7 on BBC 4 TV.

Full details here of BBC 4's Battle of the Bands as part of the 2014 Prom season from the Royal Albert Hall.
What a line-up!
Lance.

4 comments :

Liz said...

yes, a great line up, but as we said lance, the musicians should have been introduced by name,even though it may only have been a banner running across the screen. See Ben Castle was there.My fave...Mood Indigo & Moon Nocturne.

Lance said...

It was enjoyable but, upon reflection, I felt so much more could have been done. Just a little too contrived for me. Clare Teal was excellent as was Gregory but, whilst the originals stand the test of time on disc, this didn't do the music justice.

Liz said...

agreed, I thought the idea of one against the other was unnecessary, especially as we knew what the outcome would be, and that bell! As for the dancers, another gimmick gone wrong...just my opinion of course!

JC said...

I only saw the last 20 minutes so I'm glad someone mentioned the dancers. Is that what they were? You could have fooled me as they seem to lack the basic requirement of an ability to dance. And I'm sure the singers were great earlier but was it a good idea to have three of them on together for the last number which really has only one line in the lyric (plus multiple doo-wab-de-wabs)? I've noticed that the Proms seem to feel the need to 'jazz up' anything that is non-classical music (i.e. the rare times they have folk on). I don't think I've seen them do the same with 'serious' concerts.
JC

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