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.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Seminary to Quakerhouse, it’s all jazz to Eales

(Report by Tony Russell)
Bebop Spoken Here’s Durham Dalesman Tony Eales is equally at home taking a pew in a place of worship as he is in frequenting a den of iniquity. On Friday evening our southern correspondent went to a big band gig. No surprise there given that Eales thinks nothing of making a trip to Los Angeles to hear a big band. Friday’s concert was somewhat closer to home in the splendour of Ushaw College on the outskirts of Durham.
The Customs House Big Band played well, reports Eales. MD Peter Morgan has acquired a new guitarist…one Bradley Johnston (1st Class of course). As always Ms Ruth Lambert sang with the band. Eales made a quick head count (quickly losing count) of those taking a pew.

Early Sunday evening TE went to see a man about a dog. The Quakerhouse, tucked away in Mechanics’ Yard just off Skinnergate in Darlington, is one of a number of venues used by Darlington Jazz Club. Anything but a dive, more a proper pub, recognised by Camra’s local branch as a gem, the pub hosts blues and rock gigs and, fortnightly Sunday, a really good jazz gig. Sunday’s really good gig featured the Dean Stockdale Trio. TE reckons the line-up handled a mixture of standards and originals with aplomb. There’s no reason why anyone would think otherwise as pianist Stockdale is working with bassist Mick Shoulder and ace drummer Adam Sinclair. An attentive audience enjoyed two sets in the compact upstairs room of the award-winning hostelry.

Russell

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