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.

Saturday, May 13, 2023

The Eurovision Go As You Please Song Contest

Although I'm a dedicated 'Remainer' I do my best to keep any political spleens I may wish to vent separate from BSH. I mean there are many other media outlets to do that be it The Daily Mail or The Morning Star.

However, I must confess that I did think that the one, and only good thing to come out of Brexit would be that we'd be freed from the Eurovision Song Contest. 

I was so, so, wrong!

To make matters even worse, this year they're holding it in Liverpool - as if that city hadn't committed enough musical sins already! Amazingly, back in 2008, they were declared 'A City/Capital of Culture'.

Still, I thought I'd give it a try. Back in the day, a lassie from Wales, Mary Hopkins, did well to come in second with a catchy ditty - Those Were the Days which, later,  Dexter Gordon turned into a masterpiece. However, Hopkin's greatest triumph was earlier when the Clapometer (and the viewers) made her the winner of a now (thankfully) long forgotten TV talent show - Opportunity Knocks.

So tonight, I switched the telly on and promptly switched it off again. The Greatest Show on Earth? It would have been if they hadn't left out the lions, the elephants, the tightrope walkers, the trapeze artists and the jugglers, but instead, they only left in the clowns.

Nul points. Lance

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