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, February 14, 2021

Jo Harrop: Valentine's Day live stream from the 606

Jo Harrop (vocals); Jamie McCredie (guitar); Sam Watts (piano); Jihad Darwish (double bass) Pete Adam Hill (drums) 

Valentine's Day. What better way to spend the evening than in the company of Jo Harrop? Live streaming from the 606, London, our exiled superstar sang a set of love songs for the occasion. Exiled? Yes, Jo is from 'up north', County Durham to be precise, making it big in London. With Jo this evening, some of her favourite musicians, including Tyneside ex-pat guitarist Jamie McCredie. The set list would comprise GASbook gems and a couple of new tunes Jo has written with friends on the London scene. 

You'd be so Nice to Come Home to opened the set, Jo in fine voice from the first note. So many great tunes played by a great band - McCredie, pianist Sam Watts and Jo's regular bass and drums boys, Jihad Darwish and Pete Adam Hill. Moon River most effective, I Love Being Here With You vying for tune of the night, absolutely flying, McCredie knocking out a swinging solo. This was the business! What a Little Moonlight Can Do taken at a lick, smiles all round, tremendous! From Camelot, Lerner and Loewe's If Ever I Would Leave You, a choice selection, rarely heard, stripped down to a duet - Jo's voice, Sam Watt's romantic piano accompaniment. Excellent. 

If you can't find love, you can always buy love said Jo. Cue Love for Sale. Shout outs to some of Jo's 'up north' supporters in Newcastle and Chester le Street. A late observation, signifying nothing in particular...all on stage except Jo were wearing headgear of one kind or another. Fine and Mellow featured top draw piano playing from Watts, an expressive bass solo from Darwish and an exchange of scatted fours between Jo and Jamie. And that was it. Good night.                 
Russell 

Set list included: You'd be so Nice to Come Home toI've Got a Crush on YouMoon RiverThe Way You Look TonightConfessin'I Love Being Here With YouMy Funny ValentineWhat a Little Moonlight Can DoIf Ever I Would Leave YouLove for SaleFine and Mellow  

3 comments :

JERRY said...

Did your stream work well, Russell? We were plagued by jumping and buffering all through the show which I blamed on our often unreliable internet connection here. This was particularly galling given the excellence of the music on offer.
JERRY

Russell said...

Hi Jerry,no problems at all here on Tyneside. As you say, Jo and the boys were great. It'll be nice to hear Jo in concert once again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

JERRY said...

I'll drink to that!

Blog Archive