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.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Bryan Pendleton play the music of Rodgers and Hart @ the Railway, Stockport - Sept 30

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Bryan Pendleton (piano); Paul Hartley (guitar); John Sandham (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

The last time Bryan Pendleton headlined at the Railway was on April 26 when he fronted a quintet playing the music of George Shearing. For last night's show Bryan delved into the vast amount of songs composed by the prolific partnership of Rodgers and Hart whose output between 1919-1943 totaled over 500 numbers. They collaborated on 28 Stage musicals, many films featured their songs and it must have been a hard task for Bryan to choose 15 tunes from such a wealth of material.


I must admit I enjoyed this evening's show a lot more than I expected to and I can understand why so many jazz musicians like to feature these tunes. Only a couple of days ago I was watching trumpeter Jeremy Pelt giving his take on I Could Write a Book during a live stream from Smalls in New York. Sonny Rollins has recorded many Rodgers and Hart tunes and they make great vehicles for extended improvisation. I had no idea until tonight that Mountain Greenery was a R & H number, and it reminded me of the first LP I ever bought, a 10” LP by Al Cohn that contained that tune.


One thing I must mention relating to the success of this performance is the solid bass playing by local musician John Sandham. He is one of a bunch of great bass players who you can call on if required and together with Eryl Roberts they got the rhythm spot on.  Announcements were provided by Paul Hartley who also contributed some interesting solos on guitar. Bryan Pendleton did one tune on his own and invited the audience to guess the title and at least three patrons got the right answer including me which was Spring is Here but I was not confident enough to shout it out. 


The turnout for a Tuesday was higher than normal, which was good to see especially as I noticed a few new faces in the room.


The next jazz gig at the Railway is on Sunday Oct. 2 with tenorman Mike Hall. Mike Farmer

 

Falling In Love; My Funny Valentine; Spring is Here; I Could Write a Book; It Never Entered my Mind; Isn’t it Romantic?; Mountain Greenery; You Are Too Beautiful; This Can’t be Love; Have You Met Miss Jones?; Manhattan; With a Song in my Heart; My Romance; You Took Advantage of me.

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