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.

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Jazz on a Summer's Day: The Ruth Lambert Quartet @ St James' & St Basil's Church - July 17

(© Pam Young)
Ruth Lambert (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums)

The forecast high temperatures didn't quite materialise. A welcome breeze helped keep everyone cool or at least cooler than anticipated. Mature trees in St James' and St Basil's Church grounds in Fenham, Newcastle, offered some shade to the jazz parishioners there to listen to Ruth Lambert sing another fine selection of GASbook numbers.

Anita O'Day did it, today Ruth Lambert did it. The 'it' being that Tynesider Ms Lambert wore a large hat not dissimilar to that immortalised by Ms O'Day in Bert Stern's documentary film of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Following a long period of lockdown-enforced inactivity Lambert has recently emerged on the gig scene. This afternoon's set list took on a familiar look and where our vocalist is concerned that's no bad thing. Unquestionably, Ruth Lambert is singing better than ever. 

From No Moon at All through to How High the Moon, we were listening to a vocal masterclass: expression, assured high-wire invention, swinging it like nobody's business. Lambert declared I've Got the World on a String to be her favourite song, and what a job she made of it! This afternoon's one hour set flew by. Keep an eye on the listings for Ruth Lambert's forthcoming gigs. One thing is for sure, Ms Lambert, supported by pianist Alan Law and the bass and drums pairing of Paul Grainger and Tim Johnston, is at the top of her game. Russell

Set list: No Moon at AllSave Your Love for MeSecret LoveI've Got the World on a StringYou'd be so Nice to Come Home toDindiTeach Me TonightCaravanHow High the Moon.

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