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.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

KSTV: Jalen N'Gonda & Joe Webb - March 17


Jalen N'Gonda (vocal, guitar); Joe Webb (piano)

There were three people in this musical marriage tonight: Jalen, Joe and whoever was operating the lighting. As the screenshots show (I hope) the sepia setting perfectly captured the mood which was, generally speaking, a mix of the ballad side of soul, Motown, pop, songbook and an original which were all given Jalen's quite unique delivery.

Needless to say, Joe Webb was the perfect accompanist and I'd like to have heard him in a solo feature. However, he's such a frequent visitor to Smitty's that I'm sure I won't have long to wait.


I missed the title of the opener - a tune Bacharach wrote for Dione Warwick which hardly narrows the field. Nevertheless, it was a good one and the stall had been set out.

Baby Did You Hear?; What's Happening Brother?; We Can Make it Baby - these last two were written by Marvin Gaye and the next one, No More was actually written by Jalen himself - is there no limit to this man's talent (he also played guitar)?

Kurt Weill's Speak Low, which Jalen had picked up from a Peggy Lee recording, was given the respect it deserved and  Moon River too got what it deserved.

Another pleasant evening way out west.

Lance 

(Collage by Ken Drew - his 70th since lockdown began. Check them out.)

1 comment :

NeilC said...

Yet another superb set such a soulful guy you just wish more people knew about his talent . The video has had a meagre 127 views which is scandalous when some stupid grumpy cat or some clown attempted to jump through an icy pool get thousands and often millions of views there's no justice.

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