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.

Monday, May 22, 2023

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Giles Strong Quartet - May 21

(© Debra M)
Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet/flugel); Ian Paterson (bass); John Bradford (drums).

Chamber jazz played to perfection by four of the area's finest. It was done so tastefully and with not much Crash! Bang! Wallop! Although, perhaps an occasional injection of CBW would have added a little extra spice to the two sets.

Still, no one was complaining. The intimate atmosphere - there were candles on tables although the curtains and blinds remained unlowered which questioned the point of the candles - blended nicely with the music. 

Giles Strong has been on the scene for a few years, albeit not long enough to be awarded 'venerable' status - that day will come - his solos and his compositions were just right for the gig. They were both subtle and swinging.

Pete Tanton, strident on trumpet, mellow on flugel. Because the session was being recorded Pete didn't get a chance to sing. Bad move - it could have charted!

Man about jazztown is drummer Bradford. He gets more gigs than Alan Barnes, maybe even as many as Paul Grainger. He'd just blown in from the rainy city where he'd been gigging at the Manchester Jazz Festival with Zoë Gilby.

However, the revelation of the evening was bassist Ian Paterson. Ian's always been a top man on bass be it 'the old bull fiddle' or the various Fenders or their derivatives. Tonight he was right on the money.

It was a good gig with a balanced mix of standards and originals. Was this their first gig? If so, they're heading in the right direction - watch this space. Lance

Billy's Blues (not to be confused with Billie's Blues); I Hear a Rhapsody; Coco in Paris; You'll be There, I'll be Here (There Will Never be Another You); Love For Sale; Mobo Time; This is New; On Green Dolphin Street; Brother Keith; Walk to Wall; Song For a Friend; I'll Remember April; Nature Boy; Autumn Leaves.

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