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.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Start the Week at Small's - Mar. 29 & Mar. 30

(Screenshot by Russell)
Brandi Disterheft Quartet - Mar. 29

Vincent Herring (alto sax); Anthony Wonsey (piano); Brandi Disterheft (double bass, vocals); Joe Farnsworth (drums) + Antoine Drye (trumpet)

Brandi Disterheft proudly counts Oscar Peterson as one of her early career supporters. Based in New York, the Canadian bassist gigs around town and this evening at Small's she brought in a quartet to play a set of original compositions and standards. Alto saxophonist Vincent Herring (Nat Adderley, Cedar Walton, Dizzy, Art Blakey) was the big draw and he wasn't about to disappoint.   

Anthony Wonsey is one of NYC's busiest pianists and on this showing it isn't difficult to understand why that is the case. Similarly, drummer Joe Farnsworth has long since been on the Big Apple's A-list. Wonsey brought in Parisian Thoroughfare with Herring's fiery alto playing a set highlight. Moonlight in Vermont took it down, followed by some finger-busting piano playing on Disterheft's recently penned tune, Coup de Foudre, featuring the bandleader's vocals. An excellent set.          

(Screenshot by Russell)
Arcoiris Sandoval's Sonic Asylum Quintet - Mar. 30 

Roxy Coss (tenor sax); Lucas Pino (soprano sax); Arcoiris Sandoval (piano); Marty Kenney (double bass); Allan Mednard (drums) + Alison Yap (guitar) 

Monday evening Anthony Wonsey made a big impression, Tuesday evening another superb pianist gigged at 183 West 10th St. Bandleader Arcoiris Sandoval's first house set comprising five numbers (four original compositions plus a McCoy Tyner chart) featured three or four musicians new to BSH, Sandoval included. The one known name, Allan Mednard, recently heard here in Greenwich Village with Jeremy Pelt, is as impressive a drummer as any. 

The horns - Roxy Cross, tenor, and Lucas Pino, soprano sax - appeared to appreciate one another's contributions, perhaps they were revelling in playing a rare gig! McCoy Tyner's The Mountain performed as a piano, bass and drums trio gave the reeds a rest, otherwise Sandoval's charts involved all on the stand. Spiral into Oblivion could be read as a commentary on these pandemic times, whatever, its title sat comfortably with the band's name, Arcoiris Sandoval's Sonic Asylum Quintet!         
Russell

Set list: Journey to AgarthaHorizonSpiral into OblivionThe MountainAbsence of Free Will.  

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