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.

Monday, September 21, 2015

The Early Bird Band @ St. Cuthbert’s Parish Hall, Crook –September 18.

Matthew McKellar, drums, Dan Lawrence, bass, Francis Tulip, guitar (led by Paul Edis, clarinet / piano).
(Review/photo by Jerry)
Last time this group was here I missed them, owing to a bump in the car. Determined to “get the worm”, I came early this time and was rewarded with a nicely varied five tune “mini-set” including Blue Bossa, Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are and Anthropology.
I could only guess at the ages of the musicians: Paul Edis admitted that they made him (and the other Sextet members watching appreciatively from the sidelines) “feel old”. In which case, for me, substitute “ancient” for “old”! But age is irrelevant if you have real talent – and these lads have!
I’m not sure of the degree of difficulty attached to the use of various drumming implements (Adam Sinclair later gave a master-class using the whole range) but Matthew McKellar used brushes subtly and to good effect on all five numbers and more than held his own trading fours. Dan Lawrence, steady and fluent on bass guitar, joined him in laying the foundations on which guitar and clarinet elaborated. Francis Tulip, on guitar, solo-ed with great dexterity and remarkable confidence with some bluesy overtones thrown in for good measure. Well done to all!
The pleasure of performing was evident on the faces of the young musicians (and their mentor) in all five numbers. The audience loved it too!
Jerry

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