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.

Monday, November 16, 2020

Mornington Lockett's Tribute to Peter King: Live stream from 606 Club, EFG London Jazz Festival - Nov. 14

Mornington Lockett (tenor sax); Henry Lowther (trumpet); Ross Stanley (piano); Geoff Gascoyne (bass); Mark Fletcher (drums).

An appropriate and heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest of British jazz musicians, the late Peter (Pete) King - saxophonist extraordinaire.

All five musicians had been associated with Peter over the years and it showed in their playing.

This was a hard-blowing session, the kind that Peter would have revelled in, with Mornington reminding us just what a fine player he is when it comes to putting the boot in although his gentler side showed on an intense interpretation of Old Folks, a number he recalled Peter recording with another Peter - the late Peter Jacobson (I've actually got that album on tape. Must dig it out.) The piece concluded with a cadenza that lasted about three days and had Mark and Geoff looking at each other and wondering if they had time to grab a coffee or a beer or both before it was over. A magnificent moment.

Henry too showed his sentimental side on My Funny Valentine. He seems to get better with age such a gorgeous tone. He also provided a piece he'd composed for Pete and himself back in the '80s - Poser's Paradise. Seemingly named after a now defunct jazz club in Reading.

Passion Dance, one of two McCoy Tyner tunes (the other was Blues on the Corner), ended up as a work out for Mark Fletcher who gave it the Elvin Jones treatment and then some!

Geoff Gascoyne soloed effectively on the ballads and Ross Stanley was every bit as good on piano as he was on organ at The Globe the other week with Nigel and Vasi.

Before closing with Victor Feldman's Joshua,  Mornington gave us a few interesting insights into Peter King's diverse interests. Those who hadn't read his autobiography Flying High probably wouldn't have known that he was also a poet, a world champion model aeroplane authority and the composer of an opera!

Truly a man of many parts and deserving of such a fine tribute as he received tonight.

Lance

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