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.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Seven days and counting…

(Preview by Russell).
Until the return of Vasilis Xenopoulos! Master tenor saxophonist Xenopoulos will be at the Traveller’s Rest on West Auckland Road in Darlington a week today, Friday 21st. A whistle stop tour (Darlington, two dates in Cumbria, then Blaydon) reunites Xenopoulos with pianist Paul Edis. Friends since working together in London, Vasi makes an annual visit to the region never failing to wow audiences with his swinging tenor playing. A gig with Paul Edis, bassist Andy Champion and Russ Morgan, drums, is an occasion no one should miss.

So, you have not one, but two opportunities to hear Xenopoulos in action. First at Opus 4 Jazz Club at the Traveller’s Rest, then on Sunday 23rd at the Black Bull, Blaydon. They are pay on the door gigs but the best advice is to arrive early. Pitch the tent midweek and that should just about guarantee admission, although others ahead of you in the queue are sure to bag the seats. Darlington and Blaydon will be standing-room-only affairs with the clubs’ regulars operating a three line whip. Doors at Darlington will open at eight o’clock with the first set starting at 8:30. At Blaydon the first set gets under way at eight.
Tynesiders heading to Darlington by train should head to Tubwell Row to catch a bus out to Cockerton (Traveller’s Rest). Late trains to Newcastle run either side of midnight. The Black Bull gig is easily accessible from Newcastle. The 10A (6:40pm), and 12 (6:45pm) from Eldon Square Bus Station will get you there in good time to grab a seat and there is a reliable, convenient last bus at 10:55 arriving Clayton Street West at five past eleven. A Bebop Spoken Here Gold Star Award awaits those who make Darlington and Blaydon!       

Russell.        

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