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.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

KSTV: Two Clarinets - May 15

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Giacomo Smith (clarinet); Joe Webb (piano); Will Sach (double bass); Jason Brown (drums)

Two of the hottest clarinet players around, would they try to knock spots off one another? They could have done but, having played countless gigs together, this Kansas Smitty's session proved to be an excellent clarinet summit meeting of Mr Adrian Cox and Smitty's Main Man, Mr Giacomo Smith. Supported by an A-list rhythm section of pianist Joe Webb and London resident bass and drums, Will Sach and Jason Brown, we were to be treated to a swing-a-rooney of a set. 

Trading lines, appreciating one another's scintillating solos, Cox and Smith were in fine form. Sparkling work from both men on Beijinos set both tempo and standard for an hour's worth of top class musicianship. A couple of blues, including Blame it on the Blues, rooted the session in down home territory, Begin the Beguine offered a revealing insight to a musician's preference. Smith loves Artie Shaw's big hit, Cox doesn't. Smith played it, Cox didn't...

(Collage by Ken Drew)

Broken Windmill, as played by Bechet, reunited our clarinetists, and the old war horse, Strike Up the Band, concluded yet another  KSTV session. Next week (Saturday 22, 8:00pm) it's the music of the MJQ. Russell


Set list included: BeijinosBlame it on the BluesBegin the BeguineBroken WindmillStrike Up the Band

1 comment :

NeilC said...

Man they can blow , shut your eyes and you feel like you were in a 20's Jazz club they are all such accomplished musicians . The rhythm section of the brilliant and understated Jason Brown , Will Sach and the phenomenal Joe Webb augment and compliment the trading blows of Giacomo and Adrian .

A long long time ago when I started Senior School we had two years compulsory Music lesson including learning an instrument . If I had realised you needed four hands, or it felt like it, to play Clarinet I would have chosen something else but now I wish I had persevered .

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