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.

Thursday, October 18, 2018

CD Review: Caroline Scott - Khoalesce

Caroline Scott (drums); John Turville (piano); Kevin Glasgow (bass); Duncan Eagles (tenor).
(Review by Lance).
I think the moment has arrived when, if we have to genderise drummers, the exclamation marks are to be reserved for male percussionists, such are the numbers of women - not just making music, but doing it behind a drum kit.
This is the last time I'll refer to sex (as in gender) on this blog. Caroline Scott is and, like all musicians, an artist first and foremost. This is proven by the drive she provides behind three of the UK's top jazzers.
Perhaps we should also stop saying UK, or even local, such is the globalisation of the music.
Certainly, the four players here could hold their own anywhere from a backstreet pub on a sink estate to the Newport Jazz Festival on Rhode Island.
Turville, Eagles and Glasgow are familiar names to me but Scott, I didn't know.
Shame on me! Scott composed all the tunes and is justifiably referred to as 'a powerful emerging artist and a genuine force to be reckoned with on the international jazz scene'.
This, despite undergoing open-heart surgery last year which allowed her to concentrate on composing the music for Khoalesce - you win some, you lose some. The music and her playing indicate that she won both.
Apart from the leader, who doesn't make this a drummer's showcase, Eagles is at his fiery best as well as providing moments of lyricism as does Turville. The pianist, whose awards are multiple, dazzles and delights - helped along by Glasgow's masterful electric bass playing.
Recommended.
Lance.

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