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.

Sunday, January 06, 2019

CD Review: The 14 Jazz Orchestra - The Future Ain't What It Used To Be. Arranged by Dan Bonsanti

Another big band wizbang! This one doesn't need any narrative - just a band that swings and features some ace soloists. I can't/won't list the full personnel. Whoever designed the sleeve opted for dark grey text on dark black background - how do these guys get the job?
I can't name him as, no doubt, his name too is lost in the mire - let's just hope he doesn't get a gig doing road signs!

Fortunately, the music rises above such mundane matters and the soloists and guests* are named on the website. It's as swinging a contemporary big band as you are likely to find either side of the Atlantic.

A big band version of Tennessee Ernie's Sixteen Tons must be a first - they've nailed this one. Bonsanti's arrangement - like all the others on the album - will surely find its way into many big band libraries.

Love it, if not the album's presentation.
Lance.
* Randy Brecker; Mark Colby; Mark Egan; Danny Gottlieb; Marko Marcinko; Rick Margitza; Lee Levin & Richard Bravo.
Available as of Jan. 1 - see website.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive