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.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

CD Review: Matthew Kaminski Quartet w. Kimberley Gordon - Live at Churchill Grounds


Matthew Kaminski (Hammond SK2); Will Scruggs (sax); Rod Harris Jr. (gtr); Chris Burroughs (dms); Kimberley Gordon (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
Kaminski has a regular gig down in Atlanta GA. playing to a crowd of 40,000 each session and he does it over 80 times each year. That's 3 million listeners! Well, maybe they don't listen too intently having other things on their minds like if the Atlanta Braves can beat The Mets. Yes, Kaminski is the resident organist at all of The Braves home games. He doesn't play much jazz at the ball games. However, away from the ballpark, ensconced in Atlanta's premier jazz spot, Churchill Grounds, it's a, pardon the pun, a whole different ball game.
Some of the most swinging, funkiest organ playing since the heyday of Smith, McDuff and McGriff. Kaminski hits home runs on every track of this most enjoyable CD. 
Sail on Sailor (Brian Wilson); Hot Dog (Lou Donaldson); Midnight Special (Jimmy Smith); If I Had You (vocal by Gordon); So Danco Samba (Jobim - vcl Gordon); Just Squeeze me (Ellington - vcl Gordon); It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream (Ellington - vcl Gordon); April in Paris (inspired by Wild Bill Davis/Basie version, vcl Gordon); I Love Being Here With You (vcl Gordon); A Real Goodun' (Jack McDuff).
Apart from Kaminski, there's blistering tenor from Scruggs, simpatico guitar from Harris Jr. and kickass drumming from Burroughs.
The vocals are handled by Kimberley Gordon who has an Ella-like feel for the lyrics which doesn't do any harm whatsoever! 
If he was in the UK I could recommend him for a gig at the Stadium of Light - Sunderland need all the help they can get.
However, as he ain't, perhaps the 'Black Cats might look to Gerry Richardson?
As David Moyes is probably not going to take up my suggestion then fans of our local Hammond Hero will have to Hootchie along to 54 Pilgrim St., Newcastle, on Thursday (October 27) where Gerry's Quartet take centre stage at 8:30pm. It's free.
Lance.

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