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

18402 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 31 ), 76

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

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.

Sat 04: Jake Leg Jug Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Anthropology. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £10.00.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free Quintet + guest Neil Brodie (trumpet).
Sun 05: Mark Williams & Tom Remon @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Jazzmain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Thursday, November 03, 2016

CD Review: Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon – Strong Tea

(Review by Russell).
A former member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jim Rattigan recorded Strong Tea on the 11th October 2010. A twelve strong band, this ‘new’ album has been worth   waiting for. The French horn specialist hand picked the personnel, wrote the five tunes with them in mind and they have delivered the goods. Rattigan writes: I incorporate as much freedom in the music as is possible, leaving them space to express themselves. A good idea Mr Rattigan, the result is a resoundingly swinging album!

Having worked in jazz orchestras, Rattigan was inspired to form his own twelve piece band, calling it Pavillon. The musicians are ‘first call’ exponents of straight ahead jazz with that all important quality – the ability to swing. The rhythm section just can’t help swinging - no surprise there with the irrepressible Gene Calderazzo on drums alongside bassist Dave Whitford. Soloists are credited in the CD liner notes: Andy Panayi (tenor) and Percy Pursglove (flugelhorn) on Dulwich Park, Martin Speake (alto saxophone) and Steve Fishwick (trumpet) on the title track. Each contribution is top quality, the ensemble playing top drawer. Rattigan’s own playing sparkles, not least on Won Over the Eight. A nod to the Jimmy Giuffre Trio surfaces on Dulwich Park, and an association with Carla Bley and others has, perhaps, informed Rattigan’s approach to composition.
Strong Tea has a running time of forty minutes. So good is it that another forty minutes would have been most welcome.             
Russell.
Jim Rattigan (French horn), Martin Speake (alto saxophone), Andy Panayi (tenor saxophone), Mick Foster (baritone saxophonist), Percy Purseglove (trumpet & flugelhorn), Steve Fishwick (trumpet), Robbie Robson (trumpet), Jeremy Price (tenor trombone), Sarah Williams (bass trombone), Hans Koller (piano), Dave Whitford (bass) & Gene Calderazzo (drums)

Strong Tea by Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon is released on Friday 4 November on Pavillon Records (002). Rattigan tours the album beginning at the EFG London Jazz Festival at the Vortex on November 12 with further dates into next year. Highly recommended – CD and tour. For further information visit: www.jimrattigan.com

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