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

18402 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 31 ), 76

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

April

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.

Sat 04: Jake Leg Jug Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Anthropology. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £10.00.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free Quintet + guest Neil Brodie (trumpet).
Sun 05: Mark Williams & Tom Remon @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Jazzmain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Zoë Gilby & Johnny Hunter @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

CD Review: Mike Jones Trio - Roaring.

Mike Jones (pno); Katie Theroux (bs); Matt Witek (dms)
(Review by Lance).
Yesterday it was 19 discs, today it's 21! Seems like everyone and their grandmother has a CD begging to be heard.
Volunteer reviewers are still required by BSH. No pay but flexible hours and you get to keep the CD whether you like it or not! Having said that, this one is mine and if you want it, flash the cash! 
Mike Jones' previous release - Mike Jones Plays With Others -  was one of my favourite discs of 2013 and this one is up there with it. Don't let the description 'A swinging recasting of 1920's standards' delude you into thinking this is some honkytonky, Charleston bash - far from it!
If your piano idols  include Oscar Peterson and Errol Garner - particularly Garner - then this disc is for you. Sure the tunes are from the pre-prohibition days but the renditions are post 52nd St.,  and, as relevant today as they ever were, - after being given the Jones Trio's treatment.
Yes Sir, That's My Baby - cool laconic and laid back.
If I Had You - Jones, a king uncrowned.
I'll See You in Cuba - a lesser known Irving Berlin tune takes us to Havana.
Home - swingy, medium plus groove. A great tune made even greater!
Mean to Me - one of the era's classic tunes. A fantastic block chord solo. Jones takes the song apart without losing direction. Thiroux brilliant on bass - as she is throughout!
I Found a New Baby - lifts the old Dixie classic to a new level.
Me and My Shadow - swinging like a well-oiled gate.
What'll I Do? - More Berlin and a delightfully reflective solo take.
I Can't Believe That You're in Love With me - another swinger with Witek featured.
Am I Blue? -  It's not a blues but Jones puts enough 'blue notes' into the song to convince you otherwise! Just perfect!
Make a note for Down Beat Poll time - Piano: MIKE JONES. Small Group: MIKE JONES TRIO.
And if there's a section for CD Artwork then DAVID SILVERMAN's The Man!
Lance.
Available July 16 on Capri Records.

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