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.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Christian McBride Trio @ Constellation, Chicago, USA, November 17

Christian McBride (double bass), Dan Wilson (guitar), Emmett Coleman (piano).
(Review by Steve T)
It was clear as soon as he came out he was a jovial, bubbly type, all smiles from the off. Bit of a Spinal Tap moment as the bass and piano kept going round and round as the guitarist tried frantically to plug in. Eventually, to his obvious relief, a lady emerged from the audience and sorted it out.
SKJ, a Milt Jackson blues - actually almost a boogie-woogie - gave all three an opportunity to show off their considerable chops, loads of power coming from bass and piano, a touch more subtlety from the guitar, the audience clapping along with the bass solo.
The Masquerade is Over displayed more intricacy with several time changes and the three gelled to perfection.
Some banter from the man informed us it was his first intimate gig in Chicago for a decade and he anticipated a room full of bass players commenting on social media he was off tonight.
Recorda me by Joe Henderson continued alternating the order of solo between piano/ guitar/ bass and guitar/ piano/ bass before the guitarist got to show what a soulful touch he has on Wee Small Hours, ditto the pianist before a perfectly controlled bowed bass solo, then back to guitar for a well-received coda.
Billy Boy at speed posed no problem for these three perfectly balanced seasoned masters, but it turned out this was the end and the second set was actually a second show requiring a new ticket. Even though it was likely to be the same set, we were tempted by a two for one ticket offer, but decided to head out.
Short but most definitely sweet.
Steve T

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