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, May 30, 2015

CD Review: Deborah Latz - Sur L’instant

Deborah Latz (vocals); Alain Jean-Marie (piano); Gilles Naturel (bass)
(Review by Ann Alex).
Yet another good woman singer!  Bring 'em on I say!
(and there is also a local crop of women singers in the offing, and we should all be pleased about this, just as much as we’d rejoice at having lots of up-and-coming sax players, and that’s the feminist bit of the review over, I’ll say no more).
Ms Latz is an actor as well, and she’s sung in the US, Europe and China. This is her 4th CD and she’s recommended by the great Sheila Jordan.  Sur L’instant  has a pleasing intimate feel, our singer is in very good voice, showing a subtle sense of swing with just the right amount of scat, and an effective sense of the dramatic qualities of the songs.
The song choice is varied and wise: Love Theme From Spartcus; Throw It Away; Brubeck’s Weep No More; All The Things You Are; Four; Blue Monk; Mr PC; Nature Boy; Over The Rainbow.  I especially liked Nature Boy, which begins with a bowed bass, and then the piano joins in for the 2nd chorus, and I also enjoyed the delightful Blue Monk, I quote:
‘monkery’s a slow, slow train,
 trial and error, loss and gain’
The piano and bass do their stuff really well and it’s very difficult to say anything fresh about really skilled jazz musicians such as these, so I’ll leave it at that.
There are CD launch events on June 1st (Bar Next Door) and July 25th (Cornelia Street Cafe) but I think you’ll have to travel to New York to attend these do’s.
The CD became available on May 5 on June Moon Productions.  See deborahlatz.com 
Ann Alex

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