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

Monday, June 15, 2015

Alix Shepherd @ The Vermont Hotel. June 14

Alix Shepherd (piano)
(Review by Russell)
Sunday afternoons at the Vermont Hotel are the preserve of the solo pianist. This week Alix Shepherd entertained guests in the Redwood Bar with a selection of familiar tunes performed in a suitably relaxed manner in the quiet, dark wood surroundings off Castle Garth in the shadow of Castle Keep.
Late afternoon, time to kill before watching England take on the mighty Slovenians, an hour or so listening to some piano jazz seemed like a good idea. Shepherd played to the usual few, but little did he know that a budding pianist listened with no little admiration for his talents. A smattering of polite applause greeted each number – I Thought About You, Tenderly, Witchcraft – and then our admiring listener revealed she was learning to play the piano. She was ‘hopeless’ she said, having decided to take lessons ‘later in life’. Shepherd couldn’t have been more encouraging saying late starters have been known to make rapid progress. ‘One day’, said our L-plate pianist, ‘I’d love to be as good as you’.
A Train, then Satin Doll, our L-plate lady knew a good tune when she heard one. So, an afternoon’s entertainment proved to be inspirational. A good gig in more ways than one.     
Russell.

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