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

Rico's Popup Louis Anniversary Special - Mar. 26

(Screenshot by Russell)
Rico Tomasso (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, trombone); Michael McQuaid (reeds); Martin Wheatley (guitar, banjo); Andrew Oliver (piano); Nick Ball (drums); Analucia Tomasso (vocals) 

Hot Fours, Fives and Sixes, a Blue Seven, Louis, Red Allen, Bix and Bunny, yes, an anniversary special. It's one year since Rico Tomasso first ventured into the weird and wonderful world of the live stream. And, most weeks during lockdown(s) Rico has been there, Fridays at seven o'clock. 

(Screenshot by Russell)
Assisting Rico this week, Bunny Berigan, Henry 'Red' Allen, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke (see black & white photo, top left, clockwise). Hot Fives to begin with My Heart. In truth, the four legends were present in spirit only, those actually providing the backing to Rico were modern day greats (see colour photo, from the left, clockwise) Messrs Andrew Oliver (all the way from Portland, Oregon!), Michael McQuaid, Nick Ball, Rico, a mystery trombonist and Martin Wheatley.  

Red Allen, Patrol Wagon Blues, Rico singing, Fireworks with Nick Ball's bock-a-da-bock' intro, stomping piano by Oliver and excellent ensemble work from the 'Five'. Bix Beiderbecke time, time for Rico to pick up his cornet to play Blue River. From Bix to Bunny Berigan's version of Davenport Blues, Rico back on trumpet, the 'boys' of the orchestra recreating a a swing band feel, McQuaid's swinging clarinet solo. McQuaid doubled on tenor to fill out the sound on I Can't Get Started. To close, a marvellous story about Rico's parents meeting Lil Hardin in Paris! Rico's daughter Analucia Tomasso joined Rico and co to sing Harlem on Saturday Night. It had been quite a celebratory evening.           
Russell

Set list: My Heart; You're Next; Patrol Wagon Blues; Fireworks; Blue River; Davenport Blues; I Can't Get Started; Harlem on Saturday Night.       
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2 comments :

Mike Farmer said...

About three years ago I was in Melbourne Austrailia and my son and I went one Sunday afternoon to the Emerald Bistro to have a meal and hear some jazz. There was a very good tenor player who was called Michael MacQuaid playing with the house quartet. I had a brief chat with him during the interval and he told me he sometimes plays in the UK.

Sunday, March 28, 2021 12:44:00 pm
Russell said...

Mike, the very good tenor player Michael McQuaid is a multi-reeds virtuoso and he's been resident in London for some time. Indeed he is co-director of Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party. If you're interested, this year's event, near Whitley Bay, is scheduled to take place Nov 5-7. The festival website is: www.whitleybayjazzfest.com.

Sunday, March 28, 2021 2:39:00 pm

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