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, March 18, 2016

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ The Jazz Café - March 17

Gerry Richardson (vcls/Hammond SK2); Rod Sinclair (gtr); Sue Ferris (fl/bar); Garry Linsley (alt); Stuart Johnson (ten/sop); Dave Hignett/Mark Webb (tpt/flug); David Gray (tmb); Paul Smith (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Gerry Richardson's Big Idea was a good idea when it kicked off some years back, now it's a brilliant idea! Mainly originals, both old and new, by Gerry, with the odd cover thrown in, this is a band for all seasons that never fails to deliver.
 I'd back Sting's old sparring partner (Newcastle Big Band, Last Exit) against any UK jazz organist and take an each way bet on him even further afield. Driven on by the incredible drumming of Paul Smith - I've heard Paul many times but tonight he was something else - Gerry pedalled and forearm smashed his way around the Hammond to the extent that I feared for the SK2's safety.
Not that this was a two-man show - far from it - six Jacks and a Jill, helped by the small room, succeeded in making this nine-piece sound like sixteen plus! Rod Sinclair, his Telecaster in overdrive; David Gray, turning the trombone into a goblet of fire; Dave "Highnote" Hignett using top C as a starting point; Mark Webb, solid in support; Gary Linsley, Stuart Johnson and Sue Ferris - super saxes with Ferris effortlessly switching from the depths of baritonia up to fluted heights.
The tried and tested were as expected, whilst the three new numbers are indeed worthy additions to the pad. Turnaround Shuffle, in particular, is a guaranteed showstopper.
A most enjoyable evening.
Lance.

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