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.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Rico Tomasso & Nick Dawson streaming live - August 21

Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/flugel/vocal); Nick Dawson (piano/vocal)

I hadn't checked out Rico for awhile leaving it up to Russell to do the honours. However, Russell was doing the honours elsewhere tonight so the ball was in my court and, to tell you the truth - I had a ball!

When he announced the first number as Moon Song my heart leapt. I've loved that song ever since I heard Sinatra sing it on the wonderfully titled Moonlight Sinatra. Sinatra may be the better singer but Rico blows better trumpet.

Moon River didn't do much for me although the arrangement was clever mixing 3/4 6/8 & 4/4. 


I Get Ideas has a lyric that leaves little to the imagination as to what those ideas are and, by the end of the song, I think those ideas were mutually agreed upon! Apart from that it's a nice tune and Rico gave it the Armstrong treatment.

Tonight's guest accompanist was pianist Nick Dawson who almost stole the show with his pianistic dexterity. Imagine if Teddy Wilson had had a couple of extra fingers on each hand!  Nick has another secret weapon - his voice!

He did okay singing April Showers but his masterpiece was Polka Dots and Moonbeams. They don't come much better than this.

We also heard Fools Rush In, Avalon and Limehouse Blues and looked on enviously as Rico downed a pint of Old Speckled Hen.

Tonight's episode lasted an hour and it wasn't 60 minutes too long!

Next week, Rico is mooting the idea of a live one in the kitchen with Simon Picton on guitar, banjo and whatever comes to hand.
Lance

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