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, April 13, 2015

GIJF Day Two: Beats and Pieces Big Band

(Review by Russell)
Late night, the Jazz Lounge, Beats and Pieces. We’ve been here before. Two or three years ago the lads from Manchester led by Ben Cottrell blew ‘em away. So, here they were, ready to do it again. Standing room only, Beats and Pieces (the Loose Tubes of their iPad generation?) strolled out, casual, carefully groomed beardies in the ranks, a motley crew to look at, musically something else.
They were on it from the downbeat. Killer riffs, massive solos, drummer Finlay Panter the fulcrum. Basie they’re not, more like George Russell (x 10). Familiar faces – many have been regular visitors to Newcastle, notably at the Splinter sessions at the Bridge – and familiar material from their excellent debut album together with new material. Ben Cottrell, keen to press home the fact that a new CD is on the horizon (June to be exact) offered a ten percent discount to those present. The discount code is…well, if you were there you’ll know it!
The sections – three reeds, three trumpets, three bones – had fun, no more so than star alto soloist Sam Healey with several superb blood and snot-blowing efforts. Hearing him on CD is one thing, hearing him do it live is why the concert-going experience will live on for ever more. A fabulous band, catch them live, it’s an experience.    
Russell.     
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