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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Wigan then Durham, no rest for (the wicked) Tony Eales


(Review by Russell/Eales)

Does the bloke never stop? BSH's County Durham correspondent Tony Eales spent four days at the Wigan Jazz Festival then, within hours of arriving home, made a b-line for the Durham Brass Festival. 

TE has attended the Wigan event for more years than he cares to remember yet, with real enthusiasm, filed a report suggesting Wigan 2019 was as good a year as any. A new venue, stick with the same tried-and-tested formula - book some of the best bands around, both big bands (it's what Wigan is all about) alongside some top quality small combos - and reap the rewards in the shape of many near-capacity and several sell-out shows.   

TE reckons Wigan's closing Louis Dowdeswell Big Band concert couldn't be bettered. Trumpeter Dowdeswell, a 2016 Royal Academy graduate, has already worked with the best of them - Gordon Goodwin, West End jobs, Abbey Road recording sessions - and he's still in his mid-twenties! Alan Barnes, with arranger Mark Nightingale conducting, delivered the goods with another outing for his Alan Barnes + 11 touring project (see LL's review from Ronnie Scott's, May 1st). Our man's small group highlight was an appearance by Salena Jones working with her quintet which elicited a standing ovation. 

Hot footing it from Greater Manchester, TE arrived in the nick of time to get along to Monday evening's Mnozil Brass concert (part of the ongoing Durham Brass Festival) at the Gala Theatre. Part street brass, big on zany comedy, the gig did its job pulling in a full house. Last night (Tuesday 16) Eales was at it again, same place (the Gala), for some Strictly Come BRASSing. Paul Edis' community big band took its place in the orchestral pit leaving the stage to dozens of dancers to do their thing - from ballroom to swing to tap. MD Edis' regular working partners Andy Champion and Russ Morgan were on hand for a few tight jazz trio numbers and, to top it off, none other than Alan Barnes put in an appearance!               
Russell

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