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.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

GIJF: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Sage Gateshead. April 16

Graham Hardy (trumpet), Alastair Lord (trumpet), Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), David Gray (trombone), Mark Ferris (trombone), Phil Rosier (tuba), Adam Sinclair (snare drum) & Brendan Murphy (bass drum)
(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew)
And now on Radio 3, from north-east of England, the Northern Monkey Brass Band. The 2016 Gateshead International Jazz Festival hosted Radio 3’s Jazz Line-Up on Sage Gateshead’s concourse stage. Recorded for (near) future broadcast, Graham Hardy, top trumpeter, assembled the A-team for a BBC radio broadcast gig. Presented by Kevin Le Gendre, the programme featured music from the likes of Courtney Pine, Zoe Rahman, a solo spot from Ian Shaw, the steel pan sound of Yorkshire’s Pan Jumby and the amazing Roberto Fonseca Trio.
The Northern Monkey Brass Band is one of the sure-fire bands on the scene. Every time they play you can’t fail to have a good time. And these boys can play! They’re all busy in other bands but when they get together for some Horn Doggin’ (perfectly legal) you’re in for a funkin’ good time. From Louisiana by way of the Dirty Dozen and the Young Blood Brass Band, Graham Hardy’s all stars entertained a large festival crowd and when the set hits the Radio 3 airwaves (watch this space) the listening millions are in for a treat.
Earlier Roberto Fonseca wowed the afternoon audience. They were hanging off the stairs, standing on chairs, anywhere for a vantage point to hear and see pianist Fonseca give one of the great performances at this or any other edition of the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. Dynamic, virtuosic, high-energy, what a trio! Yandy Martinez (double bass) and Ramsés ‘Dynamite’ Rodriguez (drums) didn’t stop for breath. Astounding piano playing, Fonseca’s gig hit the heights and, without question, a great bass and drums team made it an extra special occasion.  
Russell.            

No comments :

Blog Archive