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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 2025).

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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Serendip Quartet - Queen of Fire

(Press release)

Two of Europe’s most talked-about jazz scenes – London & Brussels – meet in the latest release from saxophonist Arnaud Guichard’s Serendip quartet.

Having lived & studied in London for five of his formative years (including alongside in-demand drummer Moses Boyd, whose album he appears on), Guichard returned to his home country of Belgium. 

Queen of Fire (out May 7th) showcases the spirit of these vibrant cities in a record which takes in contemporary jazz, electronics and African spiritual music.

The current line-up also reflects this journey, switching out the British musicians from the debut Serendip release for three hotly-tipped Belgian players: Florent Jeunieaux (guitar),  Jasper de Roeck (double bass) and Matthias De Waele (drums).

The album is much more than a musical statement: it’s inspired by the story of the many women in the Democratic Republic of Congo who’ve been the subject of attacks over the last 20 years. In narrating the healing journey of one such woman, the album aims to raise awareness of an issue which is close to Guichard’s heart; his father was born there and his grandmother still lives there. 

“This record is dedicated to all the victims of sexual violences in DRC and to Dr. Denis Mukwege and his team who work hard at restoring the pride and dignity of all the victims of these atrocities. We hope the war that has killed millions of people and continues to destroy so many lives comes to an end.” – Arnaud Guichard

With a profile already bolstered by regular airplay on UK radio and appearances at some of London’s coolest underground venues, Queen of Fire is a meaningful addition to the growing Serendip discography.

Arnaud Guichard | tenor saxophones, compositions
Florent Jeunieaux |
 Guitar
Jasper De Roeck 
| double bass
Matthias de Waele 
|
 drums

“The influence of the vibrant UK jazz scene is more than tangible” – Jordi De Beule for Jazz&Mo’ (Belgium)

1. I Am Just a Little Girl With a Dream
2. Fighting My Own Demons
3. Born To Be Free
4. Dancing My Desires
5. They Call Me The Queen Of Fire

Bandcamp

Arnaud Guichard is a Belgian born saxophonist and composer. He lived in the UK from 2013 to 2019 where he performed as a sideman and as a leader with the renowned jazz musicians Zoe Rahman, Mark Lockheart, Simon Purcell, Mick Foster, Dave Wickins, Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd. 

Arnaud studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London with saxophonist Jean Toussaint (Art Blakey). While studying he was awarded the Jon Hassal prize for jazz in 2015 before graduating in 2016.

His latest work as a bandleader ‘Serendip’ is a project that reflects Arnaud’s early influences from the ‘Symphony Fantastique’ by Berlioz. Serendip cultivates the essence of program music using the Persian tale ‘The Three Princes of Serendip’ as an extra-musical narrative.

Serendip launched its first album ‘The Tale’ released by Impeka Records at Total Refreshment Centre in London in May 2018.It has since performed at prestigious venues like Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex Jazz Club, Jazz live at The Crypt, Jazz in The Round but also in more young and happening London venues like Ghostnotes, Rye Waxrecords, The Royal Albert bar and Kansas Smitty’s.

The album is well acclaimed by the United Kingdom’s jazz radio programs.‘The Tale’ is played regularly on Jazz FM radio and appeared on Soweto Kinch’s BBC Radio 3 program ‘Jazz Now’

In Belgium Serendip recently won the Sabam for Culture Prize at B Jazz International Contest 2019. The band plays regularly in Brussels jazz café and clubs.  

The album was also well received by the Belgian media as it appeared on Philippe Baron’s jazz radio program on RTBF and received a great review in the jazz magazine ‘Jazz n Mo’.  


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