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.

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Redemption Jazz @ The Globe, Newcastle. Feb. 28

John Hall (ten); Jim Hall (pno); Keith Tulip (6 string bs gtr); Martin Wake (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Wham! Bang! Thank You Mam! The powerhouse that is Redemption Jazz take no prisoners - musical aggression is their forte, triple forte to be precise. They deal out excitement by the truckload and it is a rare bird who isn't carried along in the juggernaut's slipstream.
John Hall (not to be confused with his titled namesake) plays fast and furious, his body language that of a slugger, ducking and weaving as though controlled by some invisible strings, preparatory to landing the knockout blow - why play one note when ten will do? 
Jim Hall (not to be confused with his guitarist namesake who was active in spirit, if not in body, less than a mile away*) impressed in  a somewhat more restrained fashion, Keith Tulip made good use of all six strings and Martin Wake dazzled with intricate percussive patterns.
Mainly self penned compositions, including one dedicated to a local blogger, plus pieces by Coltrane and Corea  made for an evening of Jazz Rock, Fusion, Contemporary, call it what you may but do call again!
In the downstairs bar there was a headbanging band on stage and, for once, the contrast between the two floors wasn't as pronounced as usual!
Lance.
* Over at the Jazz Café, Roly Veitch was playing a Jim Hall Model Sadowsky guitar.

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