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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 12: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: The ’58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club, West Park, 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 18: Brand New Heavies @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm.
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Monday, March 21, 2022

Alan Barnes w. Paul Hartley Trio + Al Wood @ the Railway, Stockport -March 20


Alan Barnes (alto sax/clarinet); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Dave Hassell (drums) + Al Wood (alto sax).

Having arrived early to make sure of getting a good seat I was surprised to find the room already half full and by the time 9:00pm came along it was standing room only. I noticed a change in the original line-up with, on drums, Dave Hassell as a replacement for Eryl Roberts. Dave is well known as a drummer, educator and Latin percussionist who also leads his own band called Apitos.


During his opening announcement Alan mentioned that there were quite a few musicians in the audience  and he would be inviting one of them to join him on a few tunes. This person turned out to be Yorkshire based multi-instrumentalist Al Wood who I remember being a member of Maynard Ferguson’s UK band and who I also saw leading his own big band at the Seven Arts Centre. He also was in Ken Marley’s quartet when I heard Ken’s Tribute to Benny Carter at Woodhouses WMC, Failsworth a few years ago.

Alan opened the concert with the tune Suddenly it’s Spring on alto which was his choice of horn throughout the evening, the only time he played clarinet was on the Jobim number Triste which was given the bossa nova treatment.  After the forth number of the first set Al Wood joined the band for an up tempo Just Friends and a lively rendition of the Sonny Rollins theme Oleo. 


After the break, Alan played two more numbers then again called on Al Wood to join him on the final three tunes and the encounter was well received by the audience. I do hope Mr Wood plays this venue again as this is what the world needs right now and it would be great for him to bring his trumpet with him. 


As an encore the band played that great Clifford Brown tune Joy Spring and both altos left everyone in a good mood.


Next 'Jazz at the Railway' is on March 22 with Paul Hartley’s Quartet featuring Julian Gregory - Mike Farmer (photos  © Jeff Pritchard).

 

Suddenly it's Spring; You’d be so Nice to Come Home to; Triste; Spring is Here; Just Friends Oleo; I’m Old Fashioned; Darn That Dream; I Love You; Blues in the Closet; Joy Spring.

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