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.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

CD Review: Tom Syson Sextet - Green.

Tom Syson (trumpet); Vittorio Mura (tenor); Ben Lee (guitar); David Ferris (piano); Pete Hutchison (bass); Jonathan Silk (drums) + Lauren Kinsella (vocal on 1 track).
(Review by Lance).
Syson is quite an amazing young trumpet player. A product of the Birmingham Conservatoroire that is currently rolling them out by the dozen, Syson must surely be listed in the 'Most Likely to Succeed' category. 
Currently a member of NYJO, Tom is also lead trumpet with the Birmingham Jazz Orchestra and, obviously, a guy going places!
On this, the young man's first CD and, surrounded by some of the [so-called] Second City's A - Listers, Syson blows incredible horn. Not always to my personal taste, early influences such as Akinmusire and, maybe, Stanko show more than Dizzy, Miles and Clifford do which drops him from my guest list. However, having said that, Russell heard Syson play a duo set with Mark Pringle at Jazz Café in January and was knocked out. Steve H confirmed the excellence of that gig with a glowing review.
The inspiration for the album is provided by the green expanse outside of his home territory in Bedford although I'm not sure where Leroy the Tiger lurks in that area of Bedford!
It's Tom's album, he wrote and arranged all the tunes and blew some mind blowing stuff but, for me, it was Mura's tenor blasts that lifted the album.
Overall, an album well worth checking out.
Release date: June 2.
Launch date: June 9 @ The Quarry Theatre, Bedford.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive