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.

Friday, May 29, 2020

Album Review: Niels Lan Doky: River of Time

Niels Lan Doky (piano); Tobias Dall; (bass); Niclas Bardeleben (drums).

A Danish trio  led by a very prolific pianist - if led is the correct term to use when the three musicians are of such comparable standing - playing Doky's original compositions.

After building a career in Denmark, Doky moved to NYC in 1980 and forged a career playing with just about anyone who was anyone. The blurb lists 60 of the biggest hitters of the past 40 years finishing off with "...and many more". By which you'll gathered he's been accepted!


And, listening to this album, so he should be! The standard of jazz piano playing worldwide has become phenomenally high and Doky, like our own Paul Edis, is more than just a contender.

His fellow Danes are also great (Great Danes - get it?) with Dall perhaps ready to step into the shoes of the man whom many rate as the greatest double bassist of them all, the late Niels-Henning Ørsted Pederson who, coincidentally played a big part in getting his fellow Dane, Doky, known around the New York jazz scene. 

Bardeleben is no less a force on drums and they come together as one - Check it out, it's released today (May 29) but don't expect to learn too much from the album notes - they're written in silver on a grey background! Who thinks up these designs? Still, in this case, the music speaks for itself.
Lance

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