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

Album review: Marco Tranchina/Smät Five - More Than Ever

Marco Tranchina (piano); Alan Short (alto sax, flute); Andrea Solarino (guitar); Mikele Montolli (double bass); Filippo Galli (drums) 

Pianist-composer Marco Tranchina has been working on the London jazz scene for more than fifteen years. This new album, a debut recording for Ubuntu Music, features long-term collaborator, bassist Mikele Montolli and two newer associates, guitarist Andrea Solarino and drummer Filippo Galli. The quintet is completed by alto saxophonist Alan Short. The album is a product of Tranchina's lockdown experience, coupled with a personal health issue, performing his writing of the album's eight tracks spanning some fifty six minutes' playing time. 

The title track moves along at a lick with alto saxophonist Short operating in post-bop territory. Lost & Found's ballad form enables all five musicians to be heard; Tranchina's considered piano playing, Galli's delicate cymbal work. Holger's Dream spotlights once more Short's incisive, biting alto. Contrastingly, Short picks up his flute to introduce Irish Eyes. The album closer, 4.3 Song Cycle, features the band as it successfully negotiates Tranchina's tricky composition. 

It would be good to hear the band live, keep an eye out for tour dates. Russell          
 
Marco Tranchina's More Than Ever is available from Ubuntu Music (catalogue no. UBU0103).  
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