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

Thursday, October 16, 2014

James Harrison Trio with Caroline Bagley @ Cherry Tree. October 15

Caroline Bagley (vcl/alt); James Harrison (pno); James Robson (bs gtr); Tom Chapman (dms).
(Review by Lance).
It was maybe 5/6 weeks back that Caroline Bagley made her Cherry Tree début with the James [Harrison] Gang. She impressed then but tonight was even better - particularly after the mic had been given an extra crank.
This was the 50th anniversary of Cole Porter's death and, although his music didn't feature in the set list, I'm sure he'd have appreciated the music and the food that was served up.
The trio played their CT signature tune - Food, Glorious Food and whilst I was enjoying the Home made black pudding, egg and brown sauce, Caroline was demanding the Frim Fram Sauce - I hope she got it!
My main course was Chargrilled bistro rump steak, café de Paris butter with traditional steak garnish and French fries.
This coincided with La Bagley chanting Autumn Leaves in French - la belle dame also blew some multi-lingual alto.
Merci (or should that be Mercer, as in Johnny?)
More alto on a spellbinding God Bless the Child followed by some scatting on Lullaby of Birdland and an up-tempo Summertime - it must be carved in stone somewhere that if you sing jazz you sing Summertime irrespective of the season.
Caroline sat the next one out - Blue Monk - and young Harrison gave as fine a rendition as you're likely to hear this side of Hackensack. Bravura flourishes a-plenty reminded us that not only is James an outgoing player but one who absolutely loves what he's doing - and so he should, he does it so well!
The set finished with Would You Be My Love?
My answer was yes!.
I usually leave around about this time but I was enjoying it so much I delayed ordering dessert. Instead chatted with John T from Ashington, proprietor Peter, the lovely couple who sit in the corner and Charles and Jackie who were new to me but Chas certainly knows his jazz.
It was game on again with Tom Chapman calling the children home with an impressive hand-drumming blast that eventually took the form of One Note Samba. Caroline, on alto, decided It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't got That Swing - she proved the point - it swung!
The trio said Let's Fly Down, Let's Fly Down, to New Orleans prompting Caroline to sing Why Don't You Do Right? Well they did right with a fine solo from Mr Bassman Robson.
And so the night unfurled.
Apple Madeleine Cake with Sunny, Apple Jelly and Street Life, Toffee Pieces and I'd Rather Go Blind rounded off my evening
They're back here in two weeks - book your table now!
Lance.

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