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 12, 2020

Debra Milne-Steve Glendinning Trio @ The Globe Jazz Bar - Jan. 11

Debra Milne (vocal); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Mike Clark (bass guitar).
(Review by Lance).

This was a Tale of Two Trios. Two vocalists, two guitarists, two venues within walking distance of each other and, had our local Metro system being operating as efficiently as its Parisian equivalent, I may have managed a set at both - in a perfect world...

Nevertheless, my decision to opt for the Jazz Coop HQ wasn't a one I regretted. Debra Milne has to be given her due, not just for her individual vocal style but also for her songs and lyrics some of which are worthy of GASbook recognition (am I right in thinking that by some genealogical thing Debs is now an American?) Certainly, Don't Come Around Here Anymore is pure AABA - and I don't mean ABBA!


It's a tight compact unit. Steve Glendinning provides the spark as well as some of the writing.

I love her Most People, a song she said she composed after Trump was elected as President. Although, in fairness, it has to be said that it could probably be applied to everyone who has ever stood for office be it your local parish counsellor or George Washington who, famously, once said, "I cannot tell a lie" - which was his first one.

Back to the music. Apart from the originals, Debra sang the Jon Hendricks' version of Corcovado and Sting's Consider Me Gone which featured Mike Clark's only solo of the set. If you're a bass guitarist and you're going to do it - do it on a number by Gordon Sumner.

Interval time and I, regretfully, had to leave but it was good to see  so many in the upper room. Debra informed me that they had some new material for the second set which, I'm afraid, will be for another day (collage left courtesy of Ken Drew - individual photos from Ken here.)

Next Sunday is a big one at the venue! JazzMain, the outstanding hard bop quartet from Edinburgh led by tenor saxist Nick Gould, are returning to The Globe - all bets are off, this is the only game in town!
Lance.

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