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, June 23, 2016

CD Review: LaVon Hardison - Come Together.

LaVon Hardison (vocals);  David Joyner (piano, organ);  Osama Afifi  (bass);  Jeff Busch (drums, percussion, cover art); Brad Schrandt  (flute, sax)
(Review by Ann Alex)
I may as well cut to the quick for the 2nd of my postal CDs – could do better.  I’d go as far as to say that you can hear more adventurous and interesting jazz at a Tuesday Jazz Cafe jam session, or a Saturday evening Globe gig. Mind, I have to say that we do breed a high standard of local musicians.
Boston (USA) born LaVon Hardison did training in classical and opera singing and has worked in TV, film and voiceovers. Come Together is her third album, which attempts to erase the boundaries of jazz, funk and soul. The CD covers jazz standards, contemporary songs such as Sunny, and numbers by the likes of Bernstein, Bacharach and Lennon/McCartney. Hardison’s voice is a rich alto, but she performs the songs mostly ‘straight’ rather than with jazz-like improvisation, except for Close To You, which is refreshingly jazzy. The musicians are mostly competent, especially the pianist, but I was a bit irritated by the rather repetitive, samey drumming and percussion.  I feel that this band could do better and they’ve missed an opportunity.
The track list is: Tomorrow; Sunny; Maybe (Strayhorn); Come Together: Alfie; Unchain My Heart; Better Than Anything;: Close To You; Some Other Time.
The CD is self released. See www.LaVonHardison.com
Ann Alex
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