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.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Jazz Social @ Charts - August 12

Stu Collingwood (piano, vocals); Andy Champion (double bass); Matt MacKellar (drums)
(Review/photos by Russell).
Here's that rainy day said the forecast. Humid, cloudy but the rain would hold off, wouldn't it? A last minute decision found your correspondent in Charts in time to catch the final number -  Days of Wine and Roses - of the second of three sets at the weekly Quayside Jazz Social. 

For Jazz Social read 'jam session'. The session, led by pianist Stu Collingwood, is slowly but surely attracting listeners as opposed to transient circuit drinkers. Joining Collingwood this week were Andy Champion and Matt MacKellar. The house trio could hold its own with the best of them and although one or two musicians dropped by sitters-in continued to prove elusive. 
An interval slice of pizza, a brief chat with a couple from Kent - they couldn't believe how good the musicians were! - then on to the final set of the afternoon. Our Love is Here to Stay, standard material except...Collingwood sang! Let's hear more next time, Stu! Sonny with  Stevie Wonder-style 70s keyboards and A Weaver of Dreams featuring Champion's top flight solo drew cries of 'Yeah!' from our Kentish Man visitor. 

Take Five featured Brubeck, Wright and Morello, aka Collingwood, Champion and MacKellar...Kentish Man was impressed a second time, no surprise really, these guys are the business! Time to go out on I Got Rhythm. Champion's arco bass solo party piece and MacKelllar's stupendous brushwork solo just about floored our Garden of England visitor. Aren't we Geordies lucky to hear this stuff here, there and everywhere, eight nights a week?! The audience wanted more so Stu and the boys obliged with C Jam Blues

Oh, yes...on leaving Charts glowering storm clouds framed the Tyne's many bridges and within minutes the heavens opened but it didn't matter, Jazz Social had your correspondent Singin' in the  Rain.
Russell.            

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