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.

Sunday, January 09, 2022

Lennie Tristano - Personal Recordings 1946 - 1970 (disc 6/6)

Lee Konitz (alto sax); Warne Marsh (tenor sax); Lennie Tristano (piano); Billy Bauer (guitar). 1948. Home recording.

Tristano (piano); Sonny Dallas (bass); Nick Stabulas (drums); + (on one tk.) Konitz (alto sax); Zoot Sms (tenor sax). 1962. The Half Note NY C. 

The 1948 set, recorded at Lennie's house in Flushing, NY and subtitled Free Session, does what it says on the tin and whilst in no way resembling Ornette Coleman's definition of free it is probably freer than anything else being played at the time with Konitz and Marsh's interweaving lines creating a contrapuntal feeling with Tristano and Bauer doing similar. In many ways, it typifies the pianist's conception of improvisation which was so different from the prevalent bebop jazz of the day.

The set from the Half Note is primarily a trio set with Konitz and Zoot Sims rounding it off with a fairly orthodox take on How Deep is the Ocean.

To sum up the six disc boxed set. For the Tristano aficionado - of which I am now most heartedly one -  it is absolutely essential. An opportunity to hear the maestro away from the pressures of the recording studio. 

However, the less-committed or the newcomer may find the poor recording quality off-putting and prefer to try before they buy. Lance

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