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.

Thursday, May 07, 2015

RIP Barry Soulsby

More sad news - Barry Soulsby, clarinetist, saxist and singer with Vieux Carré Jazzmen, Rendezvous Jazz and, over the years, many other bands, died at 8am yesterday.
More details when available.
Barry was 73
Sadly missed.
Lance.

5 comments :

Steve Andrews (on F/b) said...

Sorry to hear that, Lance. I knew Barry for many years and played tenor in his band at Balmbra's Music Hall (the Saratoga Jazzmen) in 1972, alternating weeks with trombonist Brian Chester, who worked night shifts every two weeks. He was a nice man. My condolences to his family.

Brian Bennett said...

Yes, very sad news indeed and a great loss to our local jazz scene - one of those rare breeds (like Herbie Hudson and Steve Andrews) that combine great jazz musicianship with showmanship - they light up a stage. Barry's vocals such as 'Tain't no sin to take off your skin (and dance around in your bones!); Willie the Weeper; Ace in the Hole; etc., were loved by audiences. All the local bands he was involved with will miss his unique musical ability and personality.

carstairs said...

Another nice man, personally and musically, sadly passed on. I've played many a gig with him in various bands, highlights being the Band Of Brothers ( Rea, McBriarty, Soulsby, and one half of the Hallam twins) or the clarinet duets or trios at the Crescent Club on Mondays. Even a bit of Skiffle when he brought his guitar.
He was also an accomplished classical musician. In fact an all-round person who will be greatly missed.

CCJAZZMEN said...

This was quite a shock, over the last few years on my visits, I have had so much fun playing along side Barry, and was looking so much forward to doing the same this year. My clarinet player from Ned Kelly's Franco Valussi, loved playing a duet with him with the Vieux Carre Jazzmen just last July, and told me Barry has so much soul in his playing. A wonderful clarinet player, who was also full of humor, and I will deeply miss that big smile on his face, when I used to walk into the room.
R.I.P

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

Unknown said...

Rip,Barry will miss your face in Cramlington.

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