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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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

Monday, October 23, 2017

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ Hoochie Coochie - October 22










Gerry (Crumax Keyboard/vocal); STING (guest vocalist); Garry Linsley (alto); Stuart Johnson(tenor); Sue Ferris.(Baritone/flute); Mark Webb (trumpet); Dave  Hignett,(trumpet); David Gray.(trombone); Rod Sinclair(guitar) Adam Sinclair (drums).
(Review by John T.) 
It’s been a while since I’d seen Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea so the Sunday afternoon gig at Hoochie drew my attention. Can’t believe that it was only their second performance at the venue. Considering it was a free gig there wasn’t exactly a full house for the 5pm kick off. It did fill up later on though as a special surprise artist was to perform in the second half. 
The first set started with Stone Church and Blues for Red followed by Ska Odyssey. Big Jazz Club in the Sky was next - a vocal for Gerry. African Sunset, Right On, The Turnaround Shuffle came next. The set finished with my favourite vocal from Gerry, Lady Day and John Coltrane.

The second set began with a guest vocalist on the first number only. Non other than STING doing a Bill Withers number Aint No Sunshine. (see attached video) Then followed The Sticks, Song of the Ferris, Ain’t No Stopping us Now and Another Dark One The set finished with I Think I’ll Lay Waste to Myself Tonight, All About McGriff, Autumn in Barrio, Take the Tee Train and Night Train.
Everyone is talking about Sting’s visit to the Northeast. My friends inform me that he was at the match on Saturday. Well, they should have been at the Hoochie on Sunday. This was a gig I will never forget. I seem to think the last time I heard him play live was at the gig where Gordon Solomon christened him STING, some four decades or more ago.
I know musicians always play to their best when they have a special guest but this was something else. It was a phenomenal event and every number was honed to perfection. For my money the man of the match was young David Grey on trombone, a great young talent.
Thanks to Warren once again for putting on this free gig. Even he did not know that STING was going to perform. A complete surprise!
John T.
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1 comment :

David Matthew Gray (on F/b). said...

Brilliant gig, and thanks for the shout-out John!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017 8:33:00 am

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