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.

Friday, October 16, 2015

CD Review: Herb Silverstein - Younger Next Year

Herb Silverstein (pno); Jeff Rupert (ten); Marty Morrell (dms); LaRue Nickelson (gtr); Michael Ross (bs).
(Review by Lance).
On a day when I'm listening to CDs, grimacing and wondering which of my sidekicks I can palm this one or that one off on, midway through the pile, I hit on this one - a gem!
Dr. Herb Silverstein is a renowned American ear surgeon, inventor and philanthropist. His CV also states that he's the founder and president of the Silverstein Institute and the Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota, Florida.
He's also an author, a composer and - a jazz musician!
This sounds a bit like he's a Jack of all Trades - brought up glued to the family Steinway. 
Not so.
Amazingly, after his sons introduced him to the music of  Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock he decided to learn the piano! Probably in his '40s/'50s at the time. his intellect enabled him to  grasp chord changes and patterns and now he's a highly regarded jazz composer and pianist. I'd gamble he's tops in the ear game too. The highest compliment in the jazz world is to say that he/she's got ears - Silverstein's got 'em!
Not a virtuoso pianist, but a very inventive one who slots in perfectly with his colleagues. Rupert is superb on tenor (he's heard Getz) and Nickelson is up there with him. The tunes are amazing. My first thought was, why aren't these numbers part of the standard jazz repertoire or, if they had words, the GASbook?
If you like Bebop, Bossa, Swing, Latin, Ballads or just music...
Lance.

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