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.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Album review: Nicholas Bridgman - Blue Horizon

Nicholas Bridgman (piano); Craig Hall (guitar); Dan Koloski (bass); Jim O'Sullivan (drums).

Necessity is the mother of invention they say or, in this case, Covid is the mother of invention otherwise it would be unlikely that the above four musicians based, respectively, in California, Montana, Maine and Texas would have recorded this fine album - the air fares alone would probably have  been prohibitive. 

However, modern technology requires no boarding pass, you don't even need to step out of your hometown which is how this virtual recording took place. And, in case you're wondering about the sound quality, let me tell you that Rudy Van Gelder couldn't have done it better!

Bridgman is no stranger to BSH, I reviewed his solo album The Wheel of Life back in 2015 and this is equally as good as, if not better, thanks to the additional three players. Hall in particular has some spiky guitar solos that add to the ambiance that distance couldn't diminish.

As in the solo album the pianist maintains that Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis groove albeit perhaps with a slightly more contemporary edge than previous. All 12 tracks are Bridgman originals ranging from smooth ballads to raunchy funk with a few Latin influences thrown in for good measure. 

Well worth checking out via your favourite streaming service from Jan. 21 - Lance

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