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.

Monday, September 13, 2021

The Future Looks Rosé ...

We're always on the look out for jazz references where you'd least expect t0 find them and, over the years, we've had Jazz Apples in the supermarkets, beers such as Geordie JazzBitches Brew and a Yardbird Pale Ale popping up. If a Hyundai Jazz or a Hyundai Getz is parked next to my Chevy on the levee I pop a BSH card under the windscreen wiper - got to be better news for the driver than a parking ticket.

Today I was in Home Bargains looking for my next ready meal and I discovered a wine labelled West Coast Swing (I'd strayed into the wrong aisle) and decided that, at £4.99, it belonged in my basket. Turns out it's at least a couple of quid cheaper than what the online pirates (plus postage) are asking.

I have yet to uncork it (well unscrew it) but the description looks promising.

West Coast Swing - the official state dance of California - can be danced to almost any music; it's all about matching rhythm, melody and mood.

So I guess I'll be dancing tonight after a glass or two of this vintage (2019) 10.5% Rosé from the White Zinfandel winery. 

All I have to do now is decide whether to play Art Pepper, Shelly Manne, Wardell Gray, Gerry Mulligan, Bud Shank or some of the other west coasters as I trip the light fantastic - delete the last three words!
Lance

2 comments :

Gordon Solomon. said...

Lance, don't forget Paul Desmond and Jimmy Giuffre. And a glass of Tequila!

Lance said...

Gordon, I tried mixing wine and tequila in San Sebastian in 1972, I think the hangover is just about gone ...

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