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.

Monday, December 05, 2016

CD Review: Chris Ingham Quartet - Dudley.

Chris Ingham (piano); Paul Higgs (trumpet); Rev. Andrew J. Brown (bass); George Double (drums) + Harry Greene (tenor final track)
(Review by Lance).
We remember Dudley Moore as one of the outstanding British jazz pianists. In the world of the Unjazz Dudley was renowned as a comedian/actor. However, what neither parallel universes may have realised is that he was also a composer of merit who contributed scores to a number of movies that many considered to be better than the movies themselves (take note John Wilson for next season).
Personally, Dud and Pete did nothing for me on TV but, listening to Dudley Moore's piano did! I remember when I worked in that Newcastle music store and the day that Chris Karan (Dud's drummer) came in to buy some sticks - it was like I'd met the man who sat on the right hand of God! And maybe I had.
Ingham doesn't attempt to impersonate Moore, instead, he focuses on Dudley's compositions and, with his three cohorts, brings these works to the attention they deserve.
Paul Higgs' trumpet playing fits the mood, Rev. Brown cuts his cloth and Double does the biz.
As a matter of local interest, on Ingham's previous CD - Hoagy - Russ Morgan played drums.
A delightful CD - not one for the Steves to review but tailor-made for an old smoothie like me to relax and listen to with a gin and vermouth in the company of a number 10. Well, I've got the gin and the vermouth all I need is the... (shrugs) You can't win 'em all.
A good CD capable of standing on its own merits but also a worthy tribute to one of the British jazz piano greats by a British jazz pianist who ain't no slouch either!.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive