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, March 14, 2021

Adrian Cox's Mothering Sunday Special: Ivy Benson - Mar. 14

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals) 

Our man is still out in Bulgaria working on various projects and, as it's Mothering Sunday, Adrian Cox thought it a good idea to present a set of music associated with Ivy Benson. First up, a tune Benson always played in concert but never recorded, Oh! Lady be Good. Cox was at pains to thank academic Catherine Tackley and Anni Dam for providing invaluable biographical information on his subject. 
If I Had My Way with Cox singing, prompted our man to say he intends to play this number with his band - Joe Webb & co. - post lockdown. Watch this space! I Cover the Waterfront, Stardust (vocal), tune after tune, Cox blowing great clarinet, effortlessly so, narrating the Benson story as he went along, simultaneously interacting with his large online audience. Cox enlightened his audience about the blatant sexism Benson encountered day in day out. Amazingly, back in the day, the MU railed against the female bandleader landing a 22 week run at the Palladium.

To close this Sunday Service special Cox first played A Tree in the Meadow followed by Oh! Lady be Good, just as Benson always did, playing the song as the opening and closing number at each and every concert. Our clarinetist really flew on this one! Next week? Our popular live streamer has yet to decide who or what his subject will be. Tune in (Adrian Cox Music, Facebook) at one o'clock, Sunday 21 March to find out!   
Russell

Set list: Oh! Lady be GoodI Cover the WaterfrontLoverStardustI'm in the Mood for LoveI Never KnewThe Homecoming WaltzA Tree in the MeadowOh! Lady be Good

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