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.

Monday, February 14, 2022

Knats @ “Bobiks at The Punchbowl” Jesmond - Feb. 13

Josh Mitchell-Rayner (keys); Stan Woodward (electric bass); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)

I did not intend to review this gig - Knats have been reviewed at just about every gig they have played - I just intended  to get inebriated with family and friends of the band and I did - totally - but yet…

If you haven’t been to a Knats gig  my advice is to do so before these young musicians disappear next September to music colleges in London. Only Ferg, at 16 years old, will be around for another year before he too will be off.

Upstairs, The Punch Bowl was rocking to these young musicians. I had no notebook with me but I know they started with Crazy, the Gnarls Barkley tune, and somewhere in the middle was Close to You by The Carpenters - but not as we know it!

It was the original compositions though that were outstanding from such young musicians: Modis Operandi; In The Pitt (a nod to the pub where two of them work) and several others the titles of which I couldn’t catch above the cheering from a very appreciative crowd.

The next chance to catch this band is at Hoochie Coochie on Thursday Feb. 24.

To quote our editor in chief when he last reviewed this band, “If this is the alternative face of jazz today, I’m up for it”….totally! Sylvia

1 comment :

Russell said...

As Sylvia says, catch these guys before they're gone!

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