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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

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.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Album review: The Banger Factory - Warriors

Mark Kavuma (trumpet); Theo Erskine (tenor sax); Ruben Fox (bass clarinet); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Conor Chaplin (bass); Luca Caruso (drums).

"Based upon the question of what the word ‘warrior’ means to each band member, the project seeks to link the past to the present, paying homage to American jazz tradition. It features collaborations between different generations of musicians that have benefitted from the Tomorrow’s Warriors community in London, with a palette of post-bop, afro-cuban grooves and spiritual jazz."

The above blurb describes the inspiration behind this latest release from The Banger Factory and the album does everything it promises.

It would be difficult to assemble a better sextet than the above six musicians to handle the criteria. Kavuma's playing, writing and arranging have already received much acclaim and this splendid album only serves to further enhance his standing. Fox gives the bass clarinet the acceptance it has long deserved, Erskine blows tenor worthy of comparision with anyone on the current scene whilst Gordon, once the new kid on the block is rapidly becoming the man you call first. Chaplin is long established but,
apart from some livestreams during lockdown, Caruso has been rarely sighted - at least not by me - hopefully that will change.

Available Nov. 18 on vinyl or download. 

It's an album worth checking out in whatever format. Lance

Warriors Part 1; Warriors Part 2; Chromolunga; Anansi's Waltz; Zorro; Sunzo.

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