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.

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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