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, September 29, 2014

CD Review: Julie Kelly - Happy To Be.

Julie Kelly (vcld); Bill Cunliffe (pno/synth); Anthony Wilson (gtr); Tom Warrington (bs); Joe LaBarbera (dms); Walter Rodriguez (perc.); Bob Sheppard (sax/fl); Clay Jenkins (tpt); Ron Stout (flug); Bob McChesney (tmb); Kim Richmond (sax); Nick Mancini (vbs); John Prouix (guest vocal).
(Review by Lance).
Not to be confused with Juliet Kelly who recently played a JNE gig at the Black Swan in Newcastle, Julie Kelly is a California based singer and this is her album number 8.
I had a buzz about this before I even played the first track! With Bill Cunliffe on keys and Joe LaBarbera on drums plus a whole host of other sterling performers what could go wrong? Cunliffe also wrote several of the arrangements and the material includes gems by Dave Frishberg, Bob Dorough, Roger Kellaway, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Thad Jones, Jobim - even Jim Tomlinson has a hand in one as do the Bergmans.
So, we got the band, we got the music, all we need now is the girl.
We got the girl!
Take my word for it!
I get so many albums for review these days space decrees that I have to be so, so, selective. No hesitation with this one. If in doubt try the title track which is dedicated to Bobby McFerrin.
Available now on Jazzed Media.

1 comment :

Julie said...

Many thanks for the review of the CD. A fun read first thing in the morning! So glad you enjoyed the music and helped to spread the word.
Hope to get over the pond next year.

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