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.

Saturday, January 09, 2021

Marcus Bonfanti & Dave Archer live-streaming from Kansas Smittys - Jan. 9

Marcus Bonfanti (guitar/vocal); Dave Archer (guitar).

(Screenshot by Russell)

Well, after Newcastle got turned over by Arsenal during the latter stages of extra time in the third round of the FA Cup I guess an evening of blues was what I needed to sooth the savaged breast and that is just what Kansas Smittys' delivered. 

The appeal of the old country blues songs, as the KS presenter pointed out, is the wonderful stories they tell. In her live-streamed sessions during the first lockdown, Lindsay Hannon explored that theme in detail.
Tonight, Bonfanti travelled those same dusty roads and byways singing in a voice that suggested he'd hopped many an eastbound freighter, slept in a few hollow logs as well as, as in the first song, asked someone to Make me a Pallet on the Floor.

With Dave Archer playing slide/bottleneck guitar, the music sounded as authentic as anything you're likely to hear north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

An interesting alternative to KS's normal fayre.

Lance

Numbers played included Hesitation Blues; Green Green Rocky Road; Deep River Blues; Tell Old Bill; Lion (John Fahey); John Henry/Working For my Lord (Fahey); Candyman; Lonesome Tune; Samson and Delilah.

1 comment :

NeilC said...

Went to see Marcus Bonfanti a few years back at the Cluny but whilst this was acoustic he was "electrified" at the Cluny . A really competent Blues Man one of the new breed alongside the likes of Aynsley Lister and Errol Linton . As you say not KS normal fayre but refreshing change.

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