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 08, 2021

KSTV: The Meters - May 8

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Artie Zaitz (guitar); Peter Daley (organ); Flo Moore (bass); Femi Koleoso (drums) + Giacomo Smith (alto sax)

The Meters defined the groove. From the mid-sixties through the seventies and beyond, the New Orleans' rhythm machine set the standard. This evening's session at Kansas Smitty's sought to bring something of that groove to the party. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Guitarist Artie Zaitz, in the region a couple of years ago with Moses Boyd at DJazz, welcomed online viewers from 'Streamsville'. A good line, we've been living in Streamsville for a year and more! The quartet, later to be augmented by Giacomo Smith blowing alto sax, locked, limpet-like, on to a groove, and for the next hour simply wouldn't let go. Bass and drums couldn't have been better - Flo Moore, heard at Sage Gateshead a while ago, laid down killer lines matched only by the brilliant groove merchant Femi Koleoso. Completing the line-up, recent Kansas Smitty's recruit, organist Peter Daley, setting the place alight with some smokin' lines of his own. 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

From the Meters' classic Cissy Strut, with Kansas Smitty's ace band referencing Miles' Jean Pierre, to Cardova to Look-Ka Py Py, to the one cover of the set, Sly and the Family Stone's Simple Song, this Saturday evening session proved to be as good as anything KSTV has presented, and that's saying something! If WT of Hoochie Coochie fame was watching, could it be he'll book these guys to play on Pilgrim St, Newcastle? If he does, it'll be a sellout!  Russell         
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1 comment :

NeilC said...

I saw Kansas Smitty's at the Sage a couple of years back in the smaller Hall 2 they were just superb but I was so disappointed by the numbers who attended I could see empty seats and not sure level 3 was even open I just don't understand it , the tickets were inexpensive , the musicianship was second to none yet people seemingly voted with their feet and decided not to attend , quite why it wasn't a sell out beggars belief.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:28:00 am

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