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.

Friday, March 26, 2021

Edis & Xenopoulos play the music of Harold Arlen - Mar. 26

(Screenshot by Russell)
Paul Edis (piano); Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax)

A second live stream for Paul Edis and Vasilis Xenopoulos from Rokit Studio in London. Their choice of composer, Harold Arlen. The hour long set would serve to remind the online audience of the amazing songwriting abilities of Arlen - every tune an all-time GASbook classic. Vasilis monitored the online comment, in introducing many of the numbers, Paul was at pains to highlight the role of the lyricist in Arlen's career. If it was good enough for Sinatra... The lyricists, at least some of them, included Johnny Mercer, Ted Koehler and Yip Harburg.  

Come Rain or Come Shine began this Friday evening set. Sound balance good, Paul and Vasilis appeared to be in relaxed mood, swopping anecdotes about Arlen's tunes. My Shining Hour upped the pace, the boys absolutely killing, 'class' is the word. Ill Wind, as heard at Small's on Wednesday evening when pianist Tardo Hammer played it, more than met its match this side of the Atlantic. One nil to our London based duo! And so, to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Vasilis wanted to play a contrafact of Arlen's endearing tune, cue Sonny Rollins' Valse Hot. One more tune, Yip Harburg's It's Only a Paper Moon with Vasilis unable to resist quoting Surrey with the Fringe on Top.                 
Russell

Set list: Come Rain or Come ShineI've Got the World on a StringGet HappyStormy WeatherMy Shining HourIll WindSomewhere Over the RainbowIt's Only a Paper Moon.

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