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, May 27, 2017

Lindsay Hannon & Bradley Johnston @ Vicolo - May 26

Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Bradley Johnston (guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photos courtesy of Russell)
... or I should say they performed in the lane (it was billed as ‘Live in the Lane’), opposite Vicolo’s coffee shop, which is next to the side entrance of the Tyneside Cinema. Not the easiest of venues, as the people drinking outside are seated in a line against the walls, not necessarily paying much attention to the music, chatting, laughing, so musicians have to make the best of it, which these two did. After quite a time sorting out sound problems, Lindsay struck up with a song from the great Ella, Take It Easy (?) in a pleasantly relaxed, easy, low-voiced style, followed by Dindi and the first very welcome guitar solo of the set.

Then came Blues In The Night, and I was struck by Lindsay’s skilled use of the microphone, moving it to and fro to get the best sound.
We also heard Cry Me A River:
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me an’  
I just had to quote this as it’s one of my favourite rhymes in any song or poem, even though the amusement can detract from the sadness of the song. A clock somewhere chimed 9 o’clock, another hazard.
West Coast Blues and My Funny Valentine had Lindsay, not only improvising on the tunes, but also playing with the words, and Bradley doing his stuff well, but we expect nothing less.
BSH had called me to go to the Jazz Cafe to listen to Ruth Lambert’s new quartet. Because of the delayed start, Lance and Russell had gone on ahead, so I missed Lindsay’s second set and Ruth’s first!
A whole series of music of various types, e.g. pop, is planned for this venue, so I wish them success, but have some doubts. Before leaving I saw a strange sight, a woman with a dog, the woman had a skateboard under her arm – had the dog been out skateboarding?  Just a thought.
Ann Alex    

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