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.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Bradley Creswick's Western Sinfonia @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Feb. 23

Bradley Creswick (violin); Martin Hughes (violin); Archie Brown (vocals, guitar, tenor sax); Pat Rafferty (accordion, lap steel guitar, keyboards); Sian Hicks (double bass); Brendan Murphy (percussion)

This afternoon's 'LIVE in Kings' Hall' concert attracted a full house, then some. They kept on a comin', some standing up against the back wall for the duration, others packing the balcony. The Western Swingfonia is the brainchild of the recently retired leader of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Bradley Creswick. Joining the amiable, energetic Creswick were some of Tyneside's most recognisable faces, drawn from the rhythm and blues, jazz and classical worlds: veterans of the Young Bucks and the pub rock scene, Messrs. Archie Brown and Pat Rafferty, percussionist Brendan Murphy, known to many for his involvement in the jazz scene, notably working with the Northern Money Brass Band, and from the classical concert stage, Creswick, Martin Hughes and Sian Hicks (RNS all). 

The material ranged from Purcell to a Mexican polka to Leon McAuliffe's Steel Guitar Rag to Bob Wills' signature number, San Antonio Rose. The fiddlers - Creswick and Hughes - burned as they fiddled, Hicks tamed the bull fiddle despite sustaining a wrist injury when taking her dog for a walk (!), the Young Bucks did what they always do, that is have fun, with Murphy hitting every pot and pan in sight. Time and again Creswick's six piece band brought the house down, the applause deafening. Small venue (The Globe), larger venue (King's Hall), Bradley Creswick's Western Swingfonia is a 24-carat winning outfit.
Russell   
    

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