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.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Album of the Year

Over 200 albums have made it to our review pages as we approach the end of November. There were at least twice that number which didn't reach the review stage. Some of them were good, some were very good and some were not so good, Nevertheless, all were worthy of mention. However, time and tide, as the saying goes, doesn't hang around.
So I'm not even going to attempt an Album of the Year. The music has just been so good that rating one above the other would, not only be beyond me but an insult to those bands/artists who missed the cut.
Having said all that, one album  that must be mentioned is one you can't buy and may, by now, be a collector's item I'm talking about Colin Aitchison's lovingly produced tribute to his dad. A compilation of trumpet player Hughie Aitchison playing and recording with various Tyneside bands.
Records like this are Hors Categorie.
Lance.

2 comments :

Colin said...

I still have a few left so If anyone would still like a CD you can contact me at tynesidejazztrumpetplayer@gmail.com

Steven T said...

I don't know if I'd like to pick a favourite either, though I'm open to suggestions.
Of the ones I've reviewed I think 2 from ECM, a bit of a surprise since, while I'm an ECM love/hater, I'm broadly more the latter.
Michael Formaneks The Distance and Dejohnnette, Ravi Coltrane and Matthew (son of Jimmy) Garrisons In Movement are the 2 and, unless you're a real ECM hater, everyone should probably get the latter, particularly with the historical significance.

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