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.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - March 25

Olive Rudd (vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax/sop sax/clarinet); Jim McBriarty (alto sax/sop sax/clarinet/vocals); Graham Don (keys); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums)

It was hot on the coast and cool (musicwise) in the club. The appeal of a stroll along the prom and an ice cream seemingly held a stronger attraction than four real ales, an inexpensive menu and the best small swing band north of Kansa Smitty's. Which means that the normally crowded room wasn't.

Tommy Moran, Neville Hartley and Jeremy McMurray were absent but Jim McBriarty and Graham Don slotted in admirably. Olive sang the standards including a relatively unknown one (at least to me) - Only Trust Your Heart. Music by Benny Carter, words by Sammy Cahn, it had previously been recorded by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto, Stacey Kent and Diana Krall. Olive was in fast company and she didn't let the side down.

As always there were prizes galore in the raffle and I had my eyes on the home baked carrot cake but, alas, it was not to be.

Not a bad way to spend a Friday lunchtime. Lance.

Classic Swing; Meet me Tonight in Dreamland; Only Trust Your Heart; How Can You Face me?; I Can't Get Started; Stompin' at the Savoy; I'm Gonna Lock my Heart and Throw Away the Key; Blue Lou; You Were Meant For me; Jive at Five; Stars F
ell on Alabama; Sweet Sue; When you're Smiling.

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