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

Monday, September 13, 2021

Suzanne Fonseca Quartet @ The Railway, Stoockport - Sept. 12

Suzanne Fonseca (trombone); Adrian Wilkinson (clarinet, tenor sax); Gavin Barras  (bass); Robin Dewhurst (piano).

It was a rainy night in Stockport, but it didn’t matter as the regular jazz fans were out in force and ready for their Sunday night jazz therapy. The last time Suzanne played here on August 15 she had a line-up of guitar, bass and drums but this time it was piano bass, no drummer and, of course, Adrian Wilkinson on reeds.

Robin Dewhurst is one of the best pianists around this area and he likes to play the house upright which he did on this occasion. He makes it sound like a concert grand and his style reminds me of the late, great, pianist Junior Mance who I heard live many times.   

In the absence of a drummer that superb bass player Gavin Barras did a great job keeping the time together and it was good to see him back in action after the lockdown.

The opening number was In a Mellow Tone and featured Adrian Wilkinson blowing that instrument most beloved of tenor saxophonists - the Selmer Mk VI - and this got the evening off to a good start with a kind of a mainstream vibe happening.

Fonseca made me think of Jack Teagarden tonight, especially during her solo on Misty, in my opinion one of the greatest tunes ever written.  Suzanne always ends her gigs by playing Bésame Mucho, not sure why but maybe I’ll ask her next time I see her.  One tune that wasn’t announced had me puzzled until I remembered a CD of Stan Getz playing it - Shine. Come to think of it, none of the tunes were announced but I don’t think the audience were too bothered about that.   All in all, a great gig!   

Tomorrow at the Railway (Sept. 14) it’s  the  Paul Hartley Guitar Quartet featuring Andrzej Baranek on piano. Mike Farmer.

In a Mellow Tone; Bernie’s Tune; Misty; Have You Met Miss Jones?; Don’t Get Around Much Anymore; Bag’s Groove; Shine ; Caravan; If I Had You; Honeysuckle Rose; You’re Getting to be a Habit With Me; September in the Rain; Bésame Mucho.

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