Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

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

18104 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1068 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 25), 82.

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

JANUARY 2026

Thu 01: ???

Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

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

Sunday, April 05, 2020

CD Review: Dominic Ingham - Role Models

Dominic Ingham (violin); Jonny Mansfield (vibes); David Swan (piano); Will Sach (bass); Boz Martin-Jones (drums).
(Review by Lance)

An interesting new band, not least because of the unusual instrumentation i.e. violin and vibes over a conventional rhythm section. It works well with Mansfield's vibes sonorous and rich-toned unlike some vibists who sound as if they are hitting tuned milk bottles. 

Ingham came to jazz via the folk/classical music route and those elements are incorporated in both his playing and his compositions making for an intriguing concept. At times I didn't know whether to sit with furrowed brow or get up and attempt some quaint country dance.

When all the various streams merge it becomes a musical torrent leaving the listener breathless and grateful for the pastoral moments that inevitably follow.

Scottish pianist Swan and bassist Sach, formerly of NYC, provide support and Swan's solos are as graceful as his name implies although, when the chips are down, the feathers fly. Sach does the business and it would be interesting to discover what brought him to the UK.

Beneath it all, Martin-Jones is an integral part of the unit, hitting all the right drums and cymbals in the correct order.

The band are in Edinburgh on May 1 (God willing) and Leeds on May 3 enabling us in the northeast to wave as they pass through on May 2!
Lance

The CD is released on May 1. For more info check it out here.

1 comment :

Anne said...

Brilliant band and brilliant band members !!!!

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