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.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

CD Review: Oscar Peterson - Get Happy

Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown or Major Holley (bass)
(Review by Lance).

I'm in deep trouble - I have a pile of current releases awaiting review but how, in all honesty, can I give them preference over this? 

Oscar Peterson is my undisputed jazz keyboard king. Art Tatum was great but, wonderful as he was, he didn't quite swing the way Oscar did - ask any drummer who played with him! Nor did Tatum explore harmony the way Peterson did. Admittedly, in later years, he [Peterson] became a predictable machine but when these recordings were made (1949/50) he was close to his peak even though it was early days.

A choice selection of standards including Tenderly. Peterson took the waltz out of the ballroom and turned it into one of the all-time jazz piano classics. 

Like the rest of the series the re-mastering is simply magnificent.
Another one of the essential BMG Dreyfus Jazz releases due out on May 10.
Lance.

Exactly Like You; Little White Lies; Three O'Clock in the Morning; Nameless; Tenderly; Debut; Two Sleepy People; Lover, Come Back To Me; Oscar's Blues; Where or When; Salute to Garner; All the Things You Are; In the Middle of a Kiss; Get Happy; They Didn't Believe Me; Jumpin' With Symphony Sid; Robbin's Nest; Carnegie Blues; I Only Have Eyes for You.

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