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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

RIP Derek Hunter

From the late '40s up to the early '70s there was an abundance of good pianists in and around South Shields. Just about every pub, club and dance hall had one. Names such as Ronnie Callaghan, Alan Bulley, Ray Tones, Kenny Goodall, Chic Cole, George Laing were just some of the players who could be heard in various watering holes most weekends.
Another was Derek Hunter.
None of these were out and out jazzmen although, when called upon, they could hold their own with most of the recognised jazz 88ers.
Derek Hunter, who I only discovered yesterday had died last November was just such a player.
I also discovered yesterday that he wasn't called Derek but James Frederick! Which reminds of the first gig I ever did with him - as I collected the cash Derek whispered, "Don't give them your right name!" and so the "Bill Montgomery Quartet" was born!
He was an enigmatic figure but a lovely pianist. Memories that will forever live with me are Derek playing a George Shearing arrangement of  Again and his own versions of Body and Soul and Honky Tonk Train Blues.
Then there was the night drinking with miners' leader Joe Gormley after a gig in Durham, the after hours gigs where Derek would find a piano and just play, the hanging out...
It's hard to believe that it's probably over 30 years since I last spoke to him or heard him play and now I never will.
I hope his family have recordings...
Derek died on November 23, 2015 aged 84.
Sadly missed
Lance.
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