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.

Monday, March 28, 2022

R.I.P. Tina May (March 30, 1961 - March 26, 2022)

I think it is no exaggeration to say that the jazz world is in shock and extremely saddened to learn that top vocalist Tina May died on Saturday (March 26), ironically after watching a livestream of a tribute concert to her by many of the UK's top jazz musicians at Soho's Pizza Express.

Tina will be remembered by many in the north east for her appearance at Durham Cathedral in the early 1990s with her then father-in-law Stan Tracey's Big Band in a performance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Suite.

I remember hearing - and being impressed by - Tina at London's Green Man pub back in 2009 (see photo top left).  Read here.

A London based friend of mine, Dee Linnell a.k.a. 'Flore', wrote a lovely review of a gig by Tina and Nikki Iles at Lauderdale House, Highgate. In the photo, Tina is at the left of the picture, Nikki at the right. Read here.

Tina May will be sadly missed by all who knew her or simply, like myself, loved her voice.

Our thoughts are with Simon, Ben and Glenda.

Taken from us much too soon - Rest In Peace. Lance

London JazzNews obituary

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