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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

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.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Friday, March 11, 2022

Hand to Mouth @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall - March 11

Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Bradley Johnston (guitar)

A full house gathered this afternoon in Bishop Auckland Town Hall's Laurel Cafe to hear Lindsay Hannon and Bradley Johnston. And little wonder, their Hand to Mouth project goes from strength to strength. Our duo hit on the idea of performing the music of the great Ella Fitzgerald-Joe Pass partnership and over time it has developed into a winning concert set maintaining the original premise with additional GASbook material and more.

The Very Thought of You opened the set, concluding sixty minutes later with Some Other Time. Between times we were treated to a masterclass in the art of intimate, up-close jazz performance. Lindsay's flawless vocal delivery allied to Bradley's six-string brilliance held the audience spell bound throughout. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered enthralled, similarly In My Solitude. As the hour-long set approached its end Lindsay proclaimed: Down with Love, suggesting to all present, Some Other Time.

Hand to Mouth can be heard again next week at the Lit and Phil in Newcastle (Friday 18, 1:00pm). Next month at the Town Hall (Friday 8 April) it's a tenor sax bop masterclass with the Munch Manship Quartet. Russell

Set list: The Very Thought of YouI'm Thru with LoveAll Too SoonAin't Got Nothing but the BluesBewitched, Bothered and BewilderedI'm a Fool to Want YouMean to MeThese Foolish Things; Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?In My SolitudeDown with LoveSome Other Time.

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