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.

Friday, December 30, 2022

Rendezvous Jazz @ Monkseaton Arms - Dec. 30

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Brian Chester (piano); Tom Derbyshire (double bass, vocals); Scott Adair (drums) + John Broddle (vocals)

It had been a while since BSH caught up with Rendezvous Jazz. In the interim, Maureen Hall's outfit has undergone one or two changes with ace trombone man Gordon Solomon and drummer Scott Adair now on board. As ever, clarinetist Gavin Lee sat to Maureen's left, Brian Chester occupied the piano stool with bassist Tom Derbyshire anchoring the show. Christmas decorations adorned the Monkseaton Arms' lounge, the festive menu seemingly set aside until next year, the regular noon 'til nine o'clock menu once more on offer.

Band leader Hall can't be anything other than delighted with her new recruits as the boys opened with Exactly Like You. Bone man Solomon is as A-list as they come, if Jack T had been in the house he'd have thought twice about getting up! Similarly, clarinetist Lee is of the 'first call' variety and on the evidence of this first set showing, our man held it in check - 'it' being his explosive N'Awlins' clarinet playing. Bassist Derbyshire chipped in on the vocal stakes with Lady be Good - a fine bass player and no mean singer. Johnny Mercer's Dream made the cut, Hall leading from the front. An uptempo Sunset Cafe Stomp (Armstrong's Hot Five) took us up to guest vocalist time...step forward Mr John Broddle. As JB sang Margie then Darktown Strutters' Ball , it was time to move on down the line to Cullercoats Crescent Club. See LL's review of events on Cullercoats Bay. Russell                   

Set list: Exactly Like YouAll of MeSomersetLady be GoodDreamSunset Cafe StompMargieDarktown Strutters' Ball.

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