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.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Sunday Night @ The Globe: Trish Clowes - My Iris. May 15

(© Ken Drew)
Trish Clowes (tenor sax); Ross Stanley (Hammond); Chris Montague (guitar); James Maddren (drums)

A room refreshingly packed with the unusual suspects (I only recognised 3 people out of around a crowd 50) greeted My Iris last Sunday at the The Globe. 

The band, led by Trish Clowes on tenor saxophone, who also composed all but one of the tunes performed on the night, showcased their latest album A View With a Room and it was indeed this rather groovy number which kicked the evening off.  

The entire session was a joy - something for everyone - plenty of melody and harmony for those  that way inclined but also bags of improvisation. Each individual musician was marvellous and hearing a proper Hammond organ instead of having to listen to the fake manufactured sound produced by the latest electronic whizz bang keyboard was worth it’s weight in quavers. 

(© Ken Drew)
Stanley constantly kept one enthralled with his tremendous playing, local lad Montague did the same on guitar - understated but deep  in quality. Maddren on drums was superb to watch full of beans and smiles and really drove things along.

Bandleader Clowes' sax solos were constantly challenging never clichéd and always interesting. The interplay between all 4 was infectious they were clearly seen to be enjoying themselves and their exuberance seemed to transfer to the audience who demanded and received a well deserved encore. On departing the Globe gannin’ towards The Scotswood Road we had smiles upon our faces. Steve H

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