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, August 22, 2022

Newcastle Jazz Festival (day four) - The David Gray Flextet/Ben Gilbert Trio - August 21

The David Gray Flextet: David Gray (trombone, vocals); Alan Law (piano);  Adam Sams (guitar);  Paul Grainger (bass); Michael Mather (drums)

It’s always showtime with David Gray in the house. He strutted his stuff, singing, dancing, and blowing trombone in front of Alan Law and Paul Grainger (fresh from their earlier set with Lindsay Hannon) while Adam Sams and Michael Mather completed the line-up. 

There was funk, wailing guitar solos, stomping Latin rhythms, a bass solo on a Mingus tune that silenced the room and, as a complete contrast, David sang the theme tune from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! A well put together set that saw each member of the band strut their stuff too, which they did admirably, and as always, no one enjoyed themselves more than David "Showtime" Gray. 

For the Elders; Pure Imagination; Ecclesiastics; Cyclops  plus two originals by David, Angular Momentum and Silver Orcas.

Ben Gilbert Trio: Ben Gilbert (piano); Anna Chandler; (alto sax); Jose Canha (bass)

A show tune, two Argentinian pieces and two original tunes from the Ben Gilbert trio this afternoon that left the crowd wanting more. This was smooth and sophisticated jazz with no fancy effects or grandstanding,  just three consummate musicians at the top of their game. Not often we hear music from The King and I at a jazz gig but the tune lent itself brilliantly to show the virtuosity of this trio and the bass solo on Ariel Ramirez’s Alfonsina  y el Mar was nothing short of beautiful. All in all, the trio provided a masterclass in understated yet intricate improvisation. Sylvia

Shall We Dance; No More Blues; Alfonsina y el Mar; The Way I am;  Tranquility.

No comments :

Blog Archive