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, November 15, 2021

Mark Lockheart's Generation Band @ the 606 - Nov. 15

Mark Lockheart (tenor sax); Laura Jurd (trumpet); Will Barry (piano); Seve Watts (bass); Will Cleasby (drums)

A second EFG livestream from the 606. If you were unable to get there then this is about as good as it gets.

The Generation Band matches the Trades Description Act inasmuch as we have a cross-generational group of musicians providing an enjoyable set. I was familiar with most of the musicians having heard then in a variety of settings but this was the first time for me (and maybe for them also) to hear them as a unit - they gelled.

One thing I've discovered from my not infrequent livestream visits to Lots Rd is that you are almost sure to hear some great tenor playing and tonight was no exception. Add Laura Jurd, the two Wills who, presumably, were on parole from Smitty's, along with Steve Watts on bass then you have the makings...

Lockheart did all of the arrangements without sticking his own compositions down your throat as so many do. In fact he saved his only original until the end of the set - Long Way Gone. It was excellent and, had he stuck a few more like it down my throat I'd have happily asked for more without worrying about regurgitation.

Instead, we heard a boppy, Blue Note influenced number by Ron Carter, Third Plane; an innovative take on In a Mellow Tone; Kenny Wheeler's Foxy Trot; Victor Herbert's Indian Summer; an absolutely gorgeous version of an old pop song from the fifties - Too Young to go Steady - as well as the aforementioned Long Way Gone and, before I knew it, we livestreamers too were a long way gone but we'll be back - Lance

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