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.

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Christian Garrick: The livestream set from the 606 - May 29

Christian Garrick (violin); David Gordon (piano/melodica); Alec Dankworth (bass); Tom Hooper (drums).

Now that the combination of live gigs and livestreams are becoming the norm it is ever more likely that this is going to be the way forward. Let's face it, if you've splashed the cash on all this hi-tech stuff to enable you to reach the distant corners of the jazz empire you're hardly going to pack it away in the cupboard until the next lockdown are you?

Like several venues across the land - and the pond - the 606 has presented the great and the good in both forms and tonight's first set (streamers only get the one set) was certainly a treat for those who look towards the cutting edge for their jazz fix. If I say that it wasn't totally my cuppa char is in no way a reflection on the musicians who are absolutely top class but rather a criticism of myself for not having broader horizons. Maybe if I'd been born later but, that's parents for you - no consideration.

The music varied, ranging from originals to items by Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Jaco and a tune that Garrick announced as Everything Occurs to me which, after a couple of notes, it occurred to me that this was actually Everything Happens to me. Still, as no one took up Garrick's invite to singalong it didn't matter - a tune by any other name etc...

The violinist is indeed a virtuoso - a jazz Paganini - and in David Gordon he has a man who can play piano and melodica simultaneously. Alec Dankworth is, of course, renowned for more than just being part of the Dankworth Dynasty whose jazz genes can be traced back to the Club Eleven and Freddy Mirfield's Garbage Men. Alec had solos tonight that suggested the lineage will continue. Tom Hooper stopped things getting out of hand and, when freedom beckoned he took it.

The audience loved it. Lance

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