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.

Monday, March 22, 2021

Geordie Jazz 'n' all that

(Photo by Lance)

Gary Hogg's Geordie Hour programme on Radio Tyneside plays anything and everything 'Geordie'. Musicians from the area, based in the area or having migrated to the centre of the universe (Tyneside) are given an airing on 93.6 FM and online to a worldwide (Geordie ex-pat) community at: Radio Tyneside


For the best part of seven decades Radio Tyneside has broadcast to the local hospital community and, over the years, to an ever-growing global audience. Most weeks Mr Hogg will play a track by a local jazz outfit or a track with jazz musicians on a recording. Sunday's edition opened with the Juggernaut Love Band, described by GH as one of the area's top function bands. In recent times the line-up has included Jamie Toms and Liam Gaughan, two well known faces to Tyneside's jazz audience. 

Those moderately successful pop stars Madonna and Prince can claim a Geordie connection thanks to Chester-le-Street born and bred Marcus Brown. Composer/pianist Brown, an adjudicator at the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (2018 and 2019), for many years lived in Los Angeles immersed in the film industry and working with Madonna and the late Prince of Paisley Park. Yesterday's Geordie Hour featured Marcus playing keyboards on a track by his sister Georgia Brown

And to top things off, Roly Veitch, one of the region's most respected jazz guitarists (and one half of the Blaydon Aces alongside fellow guitarist and Honourary Geordie, James Birkett) was heard singing When This Aad Hat Was New. Aye, whenever you tune in to the Geordie Hour, you're sure to hear a Geordie! Tune in Sundays at 5:00pm or catch the repeat Wednesdays at 7:00pm.          

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