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, July 11, 2022

Trypl @ Wigan Jazz Festial - July 9

Ryan Quigley (trumpet); Graeme Blevins (tenor sax); Trevor Mires (trombone); Alan Benzie (piano); Mario Caribé (bass); Guy Rickerby (drums); Eric Alfonso (percussion) 

Saturday evening at this year's Wigan Jazz Festival featured a concert performance by Trypl. As the frontline horns walked out onto stage one change to the line-up was immediately apparent. In the absence of saxophonist Paul Booth, Ryan Quigley and Trevor Mires were joined by Graeme Blevins. In addition, dep drummer Guy Rickerby was charged with sight-reading (to him) wholly unfamiliar parts. 

Trumpeter Quigley and trombonist Trevor Mires shared announcing duties, their band mates content to let their musical talents do the talking for them. Opening with BoJo (nothing to do with a discredited individual soon to depart the national stage), Trypl's Latin-infused set would generate considerable power and much excitement. 

The horns' various compositions, arrangements and/or solos - Nodge (Mires), Pasado Olvidado (Quigley) - combined insistent percussive rhythms with bebop chops. A Paul Booth lockdown composition - Trypl Trouble - put Graeme Blevins centre stage, its absent composer would have been more than impressed with what the London-based Aussie made of it. And, to top it off, Quigley made a tremendous, powerful solo contribution. 

Award-winning pianist Alan Benzie took full advantage of the festival Steinway at his disposal as bassist Mario Caribé and congas man Erik Alfonso cruised through the charts.  

The Wigan crowd loved the band and, here's commitment for you, to make this festival gig, Quigley had undertaken a nine hour journey from the Isle of Sky, Trevor Mires flew in from the North Sea Jazz Festival (working with Gregory Porter) and the depping Blevins caught a flight from Madrid having been on stage the previous evening with Jamie Cullum! Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive