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.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

CD Review: Freddie Gavita - Transient

Freddie Gavita (trumpet/flugel); Tom Cawley (piano); Calum Gourlay (bass); James Maddren (drums).
(Review by Lance).
From the opening bars I could see where this was coming from - Lee Morgan, The Sidewinder, early Hancock, Blue Note. The roots of hard bop/fusion coming together. Gavita speaks the language and, had he been a graduate of the darker side of The Village in the old days as opposed to a present day product of RAM and NYJO, he'd be winning Down Beat polls. As it is, he's probably the closest thing we've got to that era and a trumpet player comparable with many of the greats. Not via the dazzling technique of the likes of Bruce Adams and Ryan Quigley nor the controlled brilliance of Guy Barker but as, perhaps, the keeper of the flame lit by two British trumpet players who died so tragically young - Abram Wilson and Richard Turner. 
There are other, more hyped up, players around but few have the feeling, the technique and the sound that Gavita has. Think of Navarro and Clifford Brown and their fat sound then listen to Miles. Freddie lies, not quite central, more (much more) towards Fats and Clifford and yet, still remains his own man.
Ten original compositions and a rhythm section to die for make this as good a trumpet album as you're likely to hear either side of the Atlantic this year.
The album launch is at Ronnie's on April 19 and the official Froggy Records release is on April 28.
Lance.

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