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.

Friday, October 16, 2015

CD Review: Nancy Lane - Let Me Love You

Nancy Lane (vocals); Kenny Bibace (guitar); Lara Driscoll (piano); Aron Doyle (trumpet, flugelhorn); Francois D’Amours (tenor sax); Mike De Masi (bass); Dave Laing (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex).
Now wouldn’t you suppose that What Is This Thing Called Love? would be sung slowly to convey the sadness of lost love?  Not a bit of it on this CD.  Nancy Lane gives us the song in short fast phrases, sung to a pattering bass, slowing down only for the last few bars to bring out the full meaning, and it works wonderfully, like so much on this totally enjoyable disc.  I hope we’ll hear more of this lady in the future. 
The CD includes mostly jazz standards, some not so well known, and a slinky, seductive Tout Ce Que Veut Lola, (Whatever Lola Wants) sung in French, with accompaniment including a suitably muted trumpet.  The voice is sultry, husky and warm, and the musicians are well up to their job, although solos tend to last for just one chorus as the disc is meant to be singer-orientated.
Every Time I’m With You is one of those delightful ‘list’ songs, a list of the ways she feels with her lover, eg ‘I’m a camel that wants a big drink’.  You couldn’t make it up, except that a clever lyricist did.  Similarly, in You Took Advantage Of Me: ‘lock the doors and call me yours’ (from the brilliant Lorenz Hart).  Other songs are: Let Me Love You; I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me (a lovely intimate interpretation, including the verse); We’re Together; Cry Me A River; Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You; All Of You. And all rounded off effectively with a slow, sad, sincerely sung ballad Just Say I Love Him.
Nancy Lane hails from Montreal and she comes from a musical background: her grandmother sang opera, an aunt sang jazz and her father played saxophone.  She has taken part in various recording projects previously and this is her debut album.  The CD is self-released on October 23: see nancylanemusic.com 
Ann Alex

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