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.

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).

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

Wednesday, October 05, 2022

EP review: MGB (Milne Glendinning Band) - Papped

(© Ken Drew)
Debra Milne (voice); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Mike Clarke (bass guitar).

An interesting and thought provoking EP by a band looking deeply into some of the many issues affecting society today. Indeed, had it been recorded a little later there would surely have been enough material for a double CD!

As it is, Milne's lyrics provide her personal observations, observations no doubt shared by most of the free-thinking world, on such issues as, the paparazzi, the war in Ukraine, trying to be accepted and ambition and inspiration.

The words are appropriate and, occasionally, comparable with the great contemporary lyricists such as Cohen, Waits, Mitchell etc. and, all done with a distinct, if not out and out, jazz feel.

The voice conveys the mood perfectly and with co-composer Glendinning comping behind her as well as soloing - sometimes over his own accompaniment - in between verses the combination works. Mike Clarke provides the all important harmonic roots and the end product is well worth checking out. It went out on Bandcamp and other digital platforms yesterday (Oct. 4). There's also a launch at the Prohibition Bar in Newcastle on Saturday (Oct. 8)

One minor quibble. If it had been me, I'd have called the EP In the Moment rather than Papped! Lance

In the Moment; Imposter; Day Breaking; Papped.

1 comment :

Russell said...

The paparazzi? Tune to BBC World Service today (Thursday) at 10:05am to listen to The Forum: How the Paparazzi Transformed Photojournalism.

Blog Archive