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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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 01, 2021

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Dec. 1

John Faragher (clarinet); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Brian Bennett (banjo); Dave Percy (bass); Fred Thompson (drums, vocals) + John Broddle (vocals)

In the wake of Storm Arwen quite a few stayed away. The Crescent Club is usually busy, not so today. A first gig for the Vieux Carré Jazzmen following a successful weekend engagement up in Ayr, Brian Bennett's men entertained the hardy few with two sets of Dixieland jazz. John Faragher made the trip from north Northumberland, David Gray from west Newcastle and it was good to see Fred Thompson back in the fold. 

The VCJ served up their usual eclectic brand of New Orleans/Dixieland jazz, opening with Move the Body Over. Young buck David Gray made a fulsome contribution, not for nothing is DG known as 'Showtime'. Several vocal numbers suggest Gray is, or soon will be, comfortable with the material. Fred Thompson has been round the Dixieland block a few times although today his vocal features were few and far between, with Gray, and, on one number, John Faragher taking the vocal duties. 

John Broddle arrived, briefly joining the boys on Margie and an unlikely set highlight, Crazy. An audience request for Dark Eyes granted, DG sang it in Russian! To close, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You.
Russell

Set list: Move the Body Over; Rent Party Blues; Hesitating Blues; Sheik of Araby; The Glory of Love; I Can't Escape from You; Margie; Crazy; Bourbon Street Parade; Out of Nowhere; Dark Eyes; I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. 
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