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.

Saturday, March 12, 2022

Album review: Charles Mingus - Trio

Hampton Hawes (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Dannie Richmond (drums).

Yet more recently discovered unreleased gems come tumbling from the vaults. This time in the form of alternate takes from Mingus' 1957 album Mingus Three plus, of course, the original tracks. They will be released as a de-luxe package available on double vinyl or CD.

Mingus solos effectively and at length throughout. No bass player from that era had such a rich, full, sonorous sound (and, indeed, few since). 

Of equal stature musically if not physically is Hampton Hawes - a pianist I can never hear enough of. The greatest of Bud Powell's disciples, Hawes is at the top of his game - he even gets something out of Summertime. He digs deep on all of the tracks but perhaps it is on the ballad Laura that his creative juices really flow.

Dannie Richmond had had a turbulent musical relationship with Mingus over the years but they were soulmates here.

The album is scheduled for release on April 22 to coincide with what would have been Mingus' 100th birthday. Lance

Yesterdays; Back Home Blues; I Can't Get Started; Hamp's New Blues; Summertime; Dizzy Moods; Laura; Untitled Blues + alternate takes of the above.

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