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.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Album review: Doug MacDonald - Live in Hawaii

Doug MacDonald (guitar); Noel Okimoto (vibes); Dean Taba (bass); Darryl Pellegrini (drums).

Four great players, seven fine tunes (two originals), a responsive audience - what could go wrong?

Nothing!

Although based in South California, and born in Philadelphia, MacDonald actually began his career in Hawaii playing with legends such as Trummy Young and Gabe Baltazar so that when he returned to the island for this one off concert in Honolulu it was almost a triumphant homecoming - maybe they even adorned him with a lei! If they didn't, they should have done as both he and his sidemen deserved that traditional Hawaiian show of affection.

The interplay between guitar and vibes is about as close to perfection as any quartet is going to achieve - comparable with the MJQ when that group chose to swing. The difference here is that these guys don't choose to swing but swing from bar one until the cows come home!

Bass and drums provide the impetus as well slotting in a solo or two here and there to make for a nicely balanced quartet.

Check it out.

Lance

My Shining Hour; Cat City Samba; Blues in the Closet; Star Eyes; Bossa Don; Lester Leaps In; Stranger in Paradise.

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