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.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A Carolina Moon over the Crescent Club - June 14

 Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Bob Wade (trumpet), Jim McBriarty (clarinet, tenor saxophone & vocals), Laurence McBriarty (trombone), Bill Colledge (double bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) + Miles Watson (trumpet & vocals)
(Review by Russell).
A sultry day down at the coast. If it’s a Wednesday it’s the Vieux Carré Jazzmen at the Crescent Club. There’ll Be Some Changes Made sang Fred Thompson. Not much change in the tried and tested formula – give the punters what they want. Savoy Blues, Avalon (Jim McBriarty blowing a tenor sax and singing), and Christopher Columbus featuring Laurence McBriarty, trombone, and the band’s recent recruit, the excellent Bob Wade, trumpet, exchanging ideas for fun. Trombone veteran Laurence seems to have a renewed spring in his step working alongside Wade. Brother Jim, a multi-reeds maestro if ever there was one, shared vocal duties with drummer Thompson, contented bandleader Bennett knocked out the chords and Bill Colledge perched on a high stool kept time, Rolex time.
Bandleader Bennett opened the second set with a request – My Monday Date – a tune the band hadn’t played in years. Fred Thompson sang it, Bob Wade winged it (he didn’t know the number), Bennett joined Colledge to read the dots, and the McBriartys played it (they can play anything). A success! Baby Won’t You Please Come Home? pleaded Jim McBriarty, Thompson went running over to the Darktown Strutters Ball returning in time to hear Mr Miles Watson crooning A Carolina Moon. The raffle prizes went elsewhere and in no time Brian Bennett declared he was Goin’ Home.
The Vieux Carré Jazzmen can be heard again at lunchtime tomorrow (Thursday) at the Holystone pub, North Tyneside. One o’clock, free admission. 
Russell. 

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