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.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

CD Review: Petra van Nuis & Andy Brown - Lessons Lyrical

Petra van Nuis (vocal); Andy Brown (guitar).
(Review by Lance).
Patti D, La Belle Dame de Whitley Bay Jazz Party, blew in from the Windy City last month with a CD by the Andy Brown Trio waxing eloquent about it before, I guess, she'd even unpacked. Patti knows a good guitar man when she hears one.
Now Andy himself has sent a CD, this time a duo set with vocalist Petra van Nuis who also happens to be his wife.
The Chicago based couple share a rapport that stretches from the breakfast table to the bandstand or, in this case, the recording studio and back again.
That rapport is evident over 17 delightful tracks. No conveyer belt delivery here but instead, a voice that makes every day seem like Spring. Flawless and original interpretations of songs, some of which you thought you knew only to find out you didn't really know them at all! There's also a few undiscovered gems as well as some you'd forgotten about. I guarantee they'll never be forgotten again!
With her all the way, Andy digs deep to give Petra the perfect support with rich, full chords and fill-ins as well as keeping the boat afloat during his own angular solos.
The most 'lyrical lessons' you'll ever learn whether you're a singer or a guitarist or, simply, a music lover.
Lance
Sample tracks/buy.
YouTube.

No comments :

Blog Archive