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, December 24, 2020

Kansas Smitty's Xmas Eve Miracle on 34th Street

It's something of a miracle that we've been treated to so many excellent live streams in this oh-so-strange year. This Christmas Eve, at eight o'clock, the Kansas Smitty's crew have come up with something a little bit different. Before heading home to the USA for the festive break, co-composer Giacomo Smith recorded a score for George Seaton's 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street. 

Kansas Smitty's regulars Ferg Ireland and Will Cleasby are involved, as is co-composer Kit Downes. Knowing Kansas Smitty's, the score will do justice to the Oscar-winning movie starring Maureen O'Hara and John Payne. 
Russell   
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2 comments :

Lance said...

This absolutely made my Christmas. Amazingly I hadn't seen the film before, or if I had, it was lost in my early post womb memories. A great film, a fantastic story-line that helped to make this Xmas what we all wanted it to be. The cynicism of the commercial interests in the film that, in a sense, exposed the darker side of the season of good will only made the film even more appealing. But, social issues aside, this is surely one of the best Xmas movies ever.

To have, on top of that, Giacomo and the band's backing made it even better. This was just so beautiful a mix of film and music. I hope Twentieth Century Fox show their approval with a big fat cheque rather than a law suit!

Thursday, December 24, 2020 9:59:00 pm
Patti said...

First time for me too, and wasn't it wonderful! Couldn't get it to work on the TV, and didn't want to watch on the Mac sat on an office chair - so decided to chill on the couch and watch on the phone - and it was just as enticingly appealing. The music was just perfect, so right for the mood and the different settings of the film - Giacomo is obviously a massive fan!

Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:43:00 pm

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