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.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Strictly Smokin' live stream lockdown #3 - Nov. 22

Jamie Toms (tenor sax); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar).

The music was superb. It was as cool as cool was when it was cool to say cool. Laid back, lyrical, melodic and, what's the word I'm looking for?, ah yes - musical!

Toms on tenor was in Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Hank Mobley mode and it was the latter's signature dish - This I Dig of You - that got the music going. I keep stressing the word music as it was less than a visual happening with my picture freezing for minutes on end. Fortunately, the music kept playing and, in that respect, no complaints.

On guitar, Pav had a nice clear sound and Michael who, on screen, appeared to be a socially distanced mile away was equally crisp.

I didn't catch the names of all the tunes as the announcements weren't always easy to pick up on. It didn't matter as I recognised most of them anyway and they included: How Insensitive; My Favorite Things; On Green Dolphin Street; Django and a Keith Jarrett tune.

I made no attempt at grabbing a screenshot but fortunately, SSBB leader Michael Lamb was at hand to take an actual live pic which he kindly sent me and can be seen above.

Lockdown live stream #4, which is the final one, is at 2:00pm next Sunday (Nov. 29)

Lance

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