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.

Monday, January 07, 2019

A Gala Performance, a Darlington Opus

PHOTOS (courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair).

County Durham correspondent Tony Eales filed a report on recent events in Durham and Darlington. On Friday lunchtime TE attended Durham's Gala Theatre to hear trumpeter Noel Dennis reprise his Tom Harrell project. 'Aurora' played to yet another full houseas Teesside-based Dennis (trumpet/flugelhorn) performed music associated with the revered American in the A-list company of Mark Williams, guitar, Andy Champion, bass, and drummer Russ Morgan. Zoë Gilby's voice and lyrics formed an integral part of the one hour set.

Later in the day Mark Williams and Russ Morgan made the short trip down to the Traveller's Rest in the Cockerton suburb of Darlington to rendezvous with bassist Paul Susans to play a gig at the long-running Opus 4 Jazz Club. Williams' trio played to a somewhat smaller audience* in the upstairs function room on West Auckland Road. The trio's setlist was, perhaps, a little different to the usual straight ahead, swinging fayre to be heard at Opus 4.  
Russell 
Next month's lunchtime concert (Friday 1 Feb) is guaranteed to sell out. The Paul Edis Trio: A History of Jazz Piano features pianist Edis working with Andy Champion and Russ Morgan in an entertaining and informative potted history of, as it says on the tin, the history of jazz piano. S/he who hesitates will be locked out at one o'clock on February 1. Don't delay, this one will sell out. Call the Gala's box office now: 03000 266 600.

** The Traveller's Rest is sure to be busy next month. The now annual appearance by Alan Barnes - on Friday 8 February - at the Opus 4 Jazz Club has become an immensely popular affair. Admission is £12, pay on the door. Don't be caught out, from now on doors open half an hour earlier at 7:30 with the first set starting at eight o'clock. And if, inexplicably, Barnes alone doesn't light your fire, then factor in the trio he'll be working with...Messrs Edis, Champion and Morgan. Yes, world-class jazz in Darlington at a bargain twelve quid. Start queuing now!       
Russell.

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