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.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

A 3rd Year Finalist Showcase @ Newcastle University - Mar 16

Newcastle University's recently renovated boiler house has assumed a new lease of life as the Boiler House performance space. Located but a stone's throw from the Students' Union, the well-appointed venue welcomed students and non-students alike to listen to third year (and some second year) students in a showcase event. BSH noted the programme would include a performance by Jason Holcomb's recently formed (pre-pandemic) Newcastle University Jazz Ensemble...

Arriving in good time for a six o'clock start, several familiar faces were dotted around the building, all of them regular participants down the road at the Black Swan jam session. A new name - Charis Bailey - opened the show. Trombonist Charis led a five-piece band playing a couple of classic numbers - Bags' Groove and Autumn Leaves. Ms Bailey is yet to show up at a Black Swan jam session. Tuesday next week (March 22) will be the next opportunity, a case of now's the time...    
Eliza Gutteridge sang and played guitar in a stand-up, no-holds-barred, committed performance. The highlight of her short set was an original composition titled Night Terrors. Ms Gutteridge is a veteran of tv talent shows and on the evidence of this short set, the Newcastle University student's future in the music business seems assured.

The big band jazz set conducted by trombonist (and Newcastle University lecturer) Jason Holcomb was a rare outing for the Newcastle University Jazz Ensemble. No sooner had MD Holcomb put the band together, the pandemic put a stop to things. It is to be hoped this evening's performance will be the first of many more to come. The orchestra, comprising two reeds alongside other sections boasting a full compliment, is, given a fair wind, bound to develop at pace. Sitting in the ensemble's ranks, the familiar figure of guitarist Jacob Egglestone, however, on this occasion he was in the trumpet section! And, to add some experience to the ensemble, Newcastle alumnus and Bold Big Band trombonist, Alex Utting. The repertoire? Think A Train, that's where the band is coming from, or possibly going to!  The Newcastle University Jazz Ensemble is a work in progress.           

Clearly Confused (great name!) closed the show with a series of Brit Pop/indie covers (Pavement, Pulp, Radiohead) and an original number. Spied in the band were jam sessioners Ben Davies and Jacob Egglestone (guitars). All in all it had been a worthwhile outing. Russell    

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