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.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Love Jazz! Love the Black Swan jam sessions!

The ever-enterprising Newcastle Arts Centre has taken delivery of a first batch of specially commissioned jazz badges. They come in two or three different colours and designs. Black Swan jam session regulars will want to get their hands on one as soon as the adjoining crafts shop re-opens. 

A mere £1, wear it the next time you're at a jam session to show your support for Mike T & co. It's the best free show in town so don't forget to drink a bottle or three as you'll be helping to rebuild the ever-fragile jazz economy. Love jazz! Drink beer! Cheers!
Russell

4 comments :

Patti said...

What a great idea - we love jazz, we love Mike, and we absolutely love the Jazz Cafe ...... and can't wait for the grand reopening! I'll be cheering it all on with a glass or two of the finest white wine. Let the good times roll!

Anonymous said...

Very commendable but, shouldn't we at this point in time be buying badges supporting the NHS? Is the Newcastle Arts Centre donating a percentage of their anticipated badge sales towards something, dare I say it, even more important than jazz?

Russell said...

A percentage of sales (profits) to the NHS is commendable - it's called taxation. Some argued and voted for tax cuts for the rich and further so called 'austerity measures'. The result? A chronically under funded NHS. How many of those 'clapping for the NHS' voted for this, dare I ask?

Chris Kilsby said...

I have to agree with Russell.

The NHS cost £134bn (2019), not the few ££s raised by well meaning individuals.

This cost demands support (from taxation) across the whole of the economy, not from charitable giving (often from those who can't really afford it). We're already familiar with charity (PTAs) supporting our schools for essentials (books and staff costs for God's sake!) due to un-necessary "austerity" while the wealthy enjoy tax cuts and tax evasion, along with big multi-nationals.

Let's not be "guilt-tripped" into stunts like the (remarkable) Capt Tom Moore's fundraising - we should be demanding properly resourced essential services. Clapping (yes, and playing jazz) to show our appreciation of our carers and the NHS is a human response and the least we can do, but the nation's duty is surely to hold government to account to resource and pay them properly !

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