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

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.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Wednesday, December 08, 2021

My top ten live gigs of 2021

1) Tribute to Humphrey Lyttelton @ the Black Swan Arts Centre. (Photo is of your correspondent with JinJoo Yoo the band's great pianist).                  

2) Clark Tracey Quartet Under Milk Wood etc. @ theGlobe.                                  

3) Michael Feinstein @ Sage Gateshead.                                                                    

4) Joe Webb Trio @ the Lit & Phil.             

                                                             

5) Jay Phelps @ Newcastle Jazz Festival.                                                                  

6) Dennis Rollins @ Newcastle JazzFestival.                                                           

7) Alison Rayner Quintet @ the Globe.                                                                    

8) Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Newcastle Jazz Festival

9) Sarah Moule @ Pizza Express.

10) Alex Western-King - Sideslip - Album launch @ the 606 Club. 

There were many more that should have been included and, even those who made the cut could well be re-shuffled on a different day. So, ignore the ratings - they're merely numbers - and reflect on the beautiful music that I/we have been privileged to hear. As a postscript I might add that one of the best gigs was one where not a note was played - the Newcastle Big Band Reunion, organised by Andy Hudson, in the Collingwood in Jesmond. The memories and the (edited) recollections I will treasure as long as I have the ability to treasure recollections!  - Lance

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1 comment :

Unknown said...

So pleased to have our Stormy Emotions launch gig in your Top Ten live gigs of 2021, Lance. Gigging again this summer and autumn has been such a joyful experience. Hope we can all carry on in 2022!

Sunday, December 12, 2021 11:02:00 am

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