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.

Monday, December 05, 2022

Derrick Harris Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Dec. 4

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Derrick Harris (guitar); Andrzej Baranek (keys); Jose Canha (bass); Paul Smith (drums).

The first five tunes this evening were originals composed by Derrick and I liked the way the band played them, with all participants getting into that hard bop groove from the word go. Although he has played this venue many times, it’s always a treat to see  Andrzej Baranek here as his solos are highly creative and he never puts a foot wrong. The last tune of the first set was Frank Foster’s  Shiny Stockings. a tune that seems to be getting quite popular with jazz groups these days.

In the second set we heard some more interesting Harris originals along with a Hoagy Carmichael number that I was not familiar with, One Morning In May.  I thought the closing tune was a great one to end the night with, John Scofield’s Groove Elation. I think I heard this done by tenor saxman Eric Alexander on one of his UK trips and I think Scofield recorded this with Eddie Harris.  The rhythm section tonight got things spot on and it was a very satisfying evening. Lets hope we get a return visit before too long..

             

The next Jazz night at the Railway is Tues Dec 6 with the Ed Kainyek Quintet. Mike Farmer.


Don’t Ask; Sunrise; White Rabbit; Can’t Dance, Won’t Dance; Zig Zag; Shiny Stockings; I’ll Catch You; Latin Quarter; Seventh Heaven; Don’t Mind If I Do; One Morning In May; Groove Elation.

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