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, September 23, 2016

EP Review: Peter Horsfall - How Can We Know?

Peter Horsfall (tpt/vcl); David Archer (gtr); Joe Webb (pno); Dave O'Brien (bs).
(Review by Lance).
A mini gem! An EP that delights and infuriates! Delights, because the four tracks are so very listenable. Infuriates because there are only four tracks - I wanted more!
Horsfall blows mighty fine horn with a delightful 1930's feel about it. Not surprising as we know him from the Basin Street Brawlers and Kansas Smitty's House Band. The emphasis here, however, is on his crooning and it, inexplicably, brought Bill Kenny of The Inkspots to mind!
Just so laid back, I ignored the pile of review discs in the queue and played this over and over again.
Horsfall composed the four tunes: How Can We Know?; It's Not Me, It's You; This Song's For You and Cupid's Arrows and Bow. All great idiomatic numbers - who said the art of songwriting was dead?
Archer, Webb and O'Brien contribute in support and with solos that add the icing to a cake that hasn't been left out in the rain.
Absolute delight.
Peter Horsfall is at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club on Saturday Lunchtime, October 15, with the Basin St. Brawlers - won't cha come along with me?
How Can We Know - YouTube.
Lance.
Officially available Sept. 30

1 comment :

Patti D. said...

Yes indeed - Pete has a great jazz voice, as well as the top trumpet playing ..... this is such a lovely number too. Incidentally, Ewan Bleach, sax star in the Basin Street Brawlers, also sings well .... we're in for a treat at Darlington!!

Blog Archive