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.

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

Rossano Sportiello's Manhattan Blue Serenaders + 2: Live at the Flat, # 88 - Jan. 31

Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet); Evan Christopher (clarinet); Harvey Tibbs (trombone); Rossano Sportiello (piano); Rob Adkins (double bass); Kevin Dorn (drums)

Five of Rossano Sportiello's friends dropped by for # 88 in the pianist's ongoing series of online streams, live from his Greenwich Village home. The Italian's Manhattan Blue Serenaders - Jon-Erik Kellso, Evan Christopher, and Kevin Dorn - were joined for the occasion by trombonist Harvey Tibbs and bassist Rob Adkins. Nine tunes in the allotted one hour, safe in the knowledge that Sportiello doesn't do anything other than tasteful.
The '+2' element of the session comprised first-timers at 'the Flat', trombonist Harvey Tibbs and bassist Rob Adkins. Tibbs spent twenty two years at West Point before retiring to New York, where he continues to work as a freelancer. Sgt. 1st Class Tibbs worked with the Buck Clayton Orchestra, more recently with Vince Giordano's Nighthawks. And what a great player he is! Sitting alongside Jon-Erik Kellso (heard recently at the 2022 Classic Jazz Party) and Evan Christopher, it could be said they were in good company! 

Bassist Rob Adkins wasn't out of place, not in the slightest. And then there's drummer Kevin Dorn, a rare talent. In between the choice selections, our host Sportiello did the talking. The buoyant, swinging rhythm section could cut it on its own, add the horn players and you've got one cracking session. Opening with Nobody's Sweetheart Now, no rehearsal, one number after another, this was a top class NYC session (streamed or otherwise). It's Wonderful (not the Gershwins' tune), Hoagy's New Orleans, and a rousing - when isn't it?! - When the Saints Go Marching In, the Manhattan Blue Serenaders + 2 demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that these guys are NYC A-listers. Russell          

Set list: Nobody's Sweetheart NowSomeday, You'll be SorryMuskrat RambleBasin Street BluesLove is Just Around the CornerIt's WonderfulBourbon Street ParadeNew OrleansWhen the Saints Go Marching In    

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