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.

Tuesday, December 07, 2021

Ten great vocal albums from 2021

It's that time of year when we pull crackers under the mistletoe and think about those albums that have given us the most pleasure over the past 12 months. Here are ten of my favourite vocal albums - in no particular order:


The above albums, as you may have observed, are all by girl vocalists. This isn't a sexist thing it's just that the guys' PR people didn't send me many male vocal albums although the Roseanna Vitro album does have some fine vocals by the late Bob Dorough (and  Sheila Jordan) - I guess that that one scores either way. So, in a virtual one horse race the prize goes to James Hudson's Tomorrow.

Now let's hear it from you! Gigs, albums, bands, instrumentalists, singers, venues, whatever - just tell us what made this difficult year happen for you ... Lance

4 comments :

Gerry R said...

What about any of Jazz ends Horn's three albums?
She's brilliant.

Lance said...

Agreed Gerry but I can only comment on the albums I've heard in full rather than isolated tracks.

Lauren Bush said...

Absolutely chuffed to be included. Thanks so much, BSH! xo

Unknown said...

Delighted to have Stormy Emotions included in your Top Ten, Lance. Thanks a lot.

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