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, May 20, 2016

Resolution 88 @ Hoochie Coochie - May 19

Tom O'Grady (keys/Rhodes); Alex Hitchcock (ten); Tiago Coimbra (bs gtr); Ric Elsworth (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Hoochie was crowded, the lure of 241 cocktails and shots proving as big a draw as the band. I stuck with a bottle of London Pride. Despite the crowds, there was an empty seat at our table - see the previous post...
Resolution 88 came on with all guns blazing. Think Herbie Hancock, Headhunters, decibels - particularly decibels! This was the heavy metal end of jazz funk and it took some adjustment before my mindset became attuned.
O'Grady coordinates the onslaught from his Fender Rhodes and Nord Stage 2 keyboard. Elsworth's middle name is ferocity - he makes a Ginger Baker solo seem like a guy keeping time. Portuguese bass guitarist Coimbra provides the pulse, the batida de coraçäo of the band whilst out front, Hitchcock blows contemporary post-Coltrane tenor soaring up into the outer limits playing notes that only dogs could hear. Or maybe it was the triple mic drum kit that caused him to be at times inaudible.
The numbers, all originals from an already released album and one that's on the blocks.
It's powerhouse stuff, put the boot in and don't take no prisoners! Broken Beat - exactly what it says on the tin. Multiple cross rhythms, syncopated syncopation, a three-legged dance,
And yet, at times, there was subtlety and even light and shade - at times.
The groove was in, proving that it can mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.
Another winner for Warren
Photos.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive