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, October 07, 2021

Hot Club du Nord: LIVE Concerts at Home @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Oct. 7

Hot Club du Nord: Emma Fisk (violin); James Birkett (guitar); Dave Harris (guitar); Bruce Rollo (double bass)

The applause rang out across the nation as Hot Club du Nord played a LIVE Concerts at Home gig in King's Hall. The Armstrong Building venue has yet to readmit audiences. Today's livestream premiere performance was actually recorded yesterday in an empty hall save for Newcastle University's AV technicians on hand to ensure things ran smoothly. All that was required of Emma Fisk and the boys was to play - and play they did! 

A familiar set list, numbers heard time and time again, they'll be just as good next time round! Opening with Dinah, the audio-visual presentation couldn't have been better. Violinist Emma handled the announcements, the 'boys' - guitarists James Birkett and Dave Harris, and bassist Bruce Rollo - came up with the goods, our quartet could hear the cheers emanating from living rooms up and down the land. Emma on Nuages - wow! Dave Harris impressing on Sweet Chorus, Dr Birkett likewise on the set closer, Undecided. The man at the back, Mr Bruce Rollo, cool as you like, only stepping forward, metaphorically speaking, on the last number to demonstrate the art of slap bass playing. 

If you're looking for a cast iron cert of a performance, look no further than Hot Club du Nord.
Russell 

Set list: DinahBody and SoulSwing 42NuagesBellevilleExactly Like YouBlue DragSweet ChorusUndecided.

1 comment :

NeilC said...

I tuned in for this they should have all received honorary First Class degrees in Music for their performance . The playing was just sublime and crisp what a great way to spend a lunchtime , the 45 minutes flew over.

The only negative for me is I feel for the band with the only audience being the two technical support people streaming the video . It must be so so hard to play a song and not be met with the cheers and applause they would have without doubt received if an audience were present .

Lets hope better times arrive for all of these performers and we get as close as possible to pre-pandemic gigs expediently .

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