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.

Friday, September 03, 2021

Album review: Sasha Dobson with Peter Bernstein - Girl Talk

Sasha Dobson (vocals); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Ian Hendrickson-Smith (alto sax); Steven Bernstein (trumpet, flugelhorn, slide trumpet); Smith Dobson (vibes); Mauro Refosco (perc.); Neal Miner (bass); Dred Scott (drums) + Kenny Wollesen (drums - 2 tks); Norah Jones (backing vocal on Girl Talk).

Another fine vocalist capable of putting her stamp on a good tune and maybe improving a not so good one. This has really been a wonderful year for girl vocalists - Samara Joy, Veronica Swift, Sarah Moule, Georgia Mancio, Rebecca Kilgore - Sasha Dobson is up there in that league. She has one of those voices that kind of curls around you. Peggy Lee and Anita O'Day created the same effect even though Sasha doesn't sound like either she's very much her own woman although the phrasing and the huskiness do sometimes bring to mind the former and her scatting the latter. 

In her own words: "Over the years, I developed into a guitarist and songwriter, but in my heart and soul, I am a jazz singer and improviser. And this album represents something essential I had to do."

This goal is helped along by some ace guitar by Peter Bernstein, vibes by Sasha's dad Smith and Norah Jones chipping in with a backing vocal on the title track. All this and more has resulted in an album that ticks all the boxes. Lance

Release date now confirmed as September 10 - check out the usual suspects.

Listen to The Great City.

Better Days; Sweet and Lovely; Girl Talk; Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps; You're the Death of me; The Great City; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Time on my Hands; These Boots are Made for Walking.

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