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

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Musicians Unlimited @ The Park Inn, Hartlepool - March 27

Mick Donnelly (MD); Alan Catherall, Dave Harrison, Kevin Eland, Bill Watson (trumpets); John Day, Kieran Parnaby, ?, Peter Morgan (trombones); Mark Toomey (alto sax, clarinet); Kim Skerritt (alto sax); Josh Bentham (tenor sax); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Jill Nelson (baritone sax); Dave Archibold piano); Gary Hadfield (bass guitar); John Bradford (drums); Ernie Jackson (percussion); Jan Spencelayh (vocals)

Mick Donnelly thought he'd never again say: Welcome to the Park Inn. Pre-lockdown days Musicians Unlimited's weekly gig on Park Road attracted a loyal following. Now, in these supposedly post-pandemic times, following a short residency at South Durham Social Club, Hartlepool's ace big band made a one-off return as part of a year-long 'grand tour' of several Hartlepool venues.

MD Donnelly grudgingly agreed to open with In the Mood, saying: After that we'll play the stuff we want! Glenn Miller's much-loved number featured Mark Toomey (alto) and Sue Ferris (tenor) trading, likewise trumpeters Bill Watson and Kevin Eland. A good start. 

Band singer Jan Spencelayh impressed, not least on a superb rendition of Cheek to Cheek. One long-time supporter of Musicians Unlimited declared he liked hearing Jan sing. He isn't alone in that regard. The first set instrumental highlight came in the form of Blues in Hoss' Flat with Sue Ferris tearing it up on tenor and the trumpet section bang on the money. 

Second set, more good stuff: a brace of Sammy Nestico arrangements (Traces and On the Sunny Side of the Street), Kieran Parnaby (trombone) and Sue Ferris (tenor) blowing great on Things Ain't What They Used to be with Kevin Eland adding a top C finishing touch. To end an enjoyable afternoon, Sue Ferris took up her flute to guarantee a grandstand finish on Oye Como Va. Next month - Sunday 24 April - Musicians Unlimited will be on tour again at a Hartlepool venue to be confirmed.  Russell

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive