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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: The ’58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club, West Park, 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 18: Brand New Heavies @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone - May 20

(Photo by Russell)
Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Lawrence McBriarty (trombone, vocals); Brian Bennett (banjo); Paul Grainger (double bass); Fred Thompson (drums) + John Broddle (vocals)

The Vieux Carré Jazzmen were first out of the traps with a socially-distanced indoor gig. The band's loyal followers - jabbed or not - turned out in good number. What's the odds of the first four numbers featuring four different vocalists? On this VCJ gig that's what we got. First up, guest John Broddle singing Honeysuckle Rose

(Photo by Russell)
A bottom-of-the-barrel pint of London Pride, a plate of potato wedges, a bit crack, a typical Holystone Thursday lunchtime session. Drummer Fred Thompson sang Alice Blue Gown and, not to be outdone, veteran 'bone man Lawrence McBriarty got in on the vocal act with a measured tenor-voice rendition of Dallas Blues

Brother Jim McBriarty (sounds like a Hammond B3 maestro...perhaps he is!) replied with Oh, Lady be Good! From here on in our crooners would be McBriarty J and Thompson, save for a second set spot for Mr Broddle.  

Second set, more of the same, including an 'if I ever hear that tune again'Petite Fleur, expertly played by Jim McBriarty. Bechet lives! Up jumped Mr Broddle to sing a well-received Should I? followed by Sweet Lorraine, 'backing vocals' courtesy of McBriarty L. 

Brother L gave it 'six-nowt' (translation from the Geordie available upon request) on a spirited Muskrat Ramble, brother J, wailing away on clarinet, hirsute bassist Paul Grainger playing as if in an energetic revivalist outfit. Brother J sang It's Only a Paper Moon. Great lyrics, Harold Arlen knew what he was doing...It's a Barnum and Bailey world etc. After all, It's only make believe. Last one...Ice Cream, shared vocals, Messrs J McBriarty and F Thompson. Back next week (Thursday 27), one o'clock. 

Some tunes, however good, fall into the category of, Please, never again!, they've been done to death and/or crucified! 
Russell

Set list: Honeysuckle RoseAlice Blue GownDallas BluesOh, Lady be Good!Big Butter and Egg ManYou're the One I Care ForAll of MeEverybody Loves My Baby;  Petite Fleur;  Should I? (reveal exactly how I feel)Sweet LorraineMuskrat RambleIt's Only Paper MoonIce Cream

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