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, July 10, 2022

Mouth of the Tyne Festival Day Two - The Jazz Stage

Yesterday was hot. hot, hot. Today was hot, hot, hot times ten! I was undecided as to whether to take a dip in the sea or to sup copious flagons of ale. It was a tough choice but as the ale looked less choppy than the North Sea I opted for the latter.

Rendezvous Jazz: Maureen Hall (vocal); Gavin Lee (clarinet/alto sax); Herbie Hudson (trombone/harmonica/vocal); Brian Chester (keys); John Robinson (bass); George Davidson (drums/vocals). It was a stomping good start to the afternoon.

River City Jazzmen: Gordon Solomon (trombone); Bob Wade (trumpet): Gavin Lee (clarinet/alto sax); Keith Stephen (guitar/banjo); Phil Rutherford (sousa); Tommy Graham (drums) + Caroline Stephen (vocals). More stomping with the RCJ and a couple of surprise vocals from Caroline. After Hello Central give me Doctor Jazz I half expected to hear an automated message saying "You are number 29 in the queue. Please hold and Doctor Jazz or a member of staff will be with you shortly."

(© Mary B)
House of the Black Gardenia: Elise Rana (vocals/washboard); Pete Tanton (trumpet); Chris Kurgi-Smith (trombone); Keith Armstrong (tenor, alto sax/clarinet); Katja Roberts (violin); Elliott Rush (piano); Michael Littlefield (guitar/ banjo/vocals); Neil Hopper (bass/sousaphone); Giles Holt (drums). The Gardenia's line-up tends to fluctuate these days however, the material doesn't and they always put on a good show although the outdoor setting didn't do them any favours which wasn't helped by the music wafting across from the nearby priory.

(© Mary B)
Classic Swing: Olive Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/alto sax/vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Eddie Bellis (trombone); Jeremy McMurray (keys); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums). Olive had it all to do to hold her own against one Sophie Ellis-Baxter who, over in the aforementioned priory, was dishing out the decibels but Olive and the band coped admirably making for a fitting finale of classic swing. Lance.

PS: Nice to meet up again with Tommy and Lorna Weatherly.

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