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.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

CD Review: Peter Horsfall - Nighthawks

Peter Horsfall (vocals); Giacomo Smith (alto); Joe Webb (piano); Ferg Ireland (bass); Pedro Segundo (drums) + David Archer (guitar) & Cherise Adams-Burnett & Renato Paris (backing vocals) on Couldn't Stop Lovin' You.
(Review by Lance).
If you're expecting to hear some modern Dixieland horn-blowing from Basin Street Brawlers' trumpet man, Horsfall, then walk away now. However, if you're a fan of his whispering, atmospheric vocals, then, stay right there - don't move. If Edward Hopper is your favourite artist then you won't want to move and, if you just happen to wonder if Cécile McLorin Salvant paints as good as she sings  - here is where you find out!
Horsfall left his trumpet in the hock shop for this one, instead, using his laidback, understated vocals (he makes Chet Baker sound like Little Richard) he wistfully caresses songs of love lost and found. He's in the mind of the characters in Hopper's immortal painting - Nighthawks. We're in Philly's Late Night Diner.
Five of the original ballads were co-written by Horsfall and Smith as well as interpretations of Paradise by Barry Harris and Duke's Sunset & the Mocking Bird with new lyrics by Horsfall.
The band is drawn from Kansas Smitty's House Band and, if you like Johnny Hodges, just listen to Giacomo Smith wail!
Cécile? Our girl's paintings give some light relief to the doom-laden artwork of the booklet - brilliant though David Hamblett's photos are.
Way back when, in the wee small hours of the morning, we'd listen to In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning. Perhaps nighthawks now, in the wee small hours of the morning,  will listen to Nighthawks.

Like most CDs today, I had to get the cat to read the info - and she had to borrow my glasses.
Lance.
Release date November 24. Album launch November 29 @ Kansas Smitty's.

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