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.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Robin Sunflower Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - July 9

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Robin Sunflower (harmonica); Adrian Ingram (guitar); Hayden Minnet (guitar); Nick Lunn (bass guitar).

In the absence of a drummer they all managed to fit onto the small bandstand with Robin Sunflower even bringing an easy chair to sit on. Sunflower is a frequent visitor to the Railway and for this gig he had with him Adrian Ingram who is well known in the guitar world and it was he who was heavily featured solo-wise.


Plenty of great tunes were played by this unit and the total came to fourteen which included a wide range of compositions by the likes of Ellington, Henry Mancini, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Toots Thielemans among others. 


As well as playing harmonica Robin Sunflower also likes to sing but keeps his vocals to a minimum which is OK with me. He sometimes uses a different line-up when he plays the Railway often featuring the great piano-man Richard Wetherall on the house upright but whoever he tuns up with he attracts a pretty good sized crowd of followers.  I must admit I do not know much about the harmonica but Sunflower is as good as any I’ve heard although unfortunately I never did see Toots Thielemans live.

 

The tune Bluesette was played in the first set and this reminded me of a great night at Ronnie Scott's when I heard Milt Buckner who was featured doing this very tune on organ alongside Tony Crombie on drums.    


The next jazz night at the Railway will be Tuesday July 11 with the Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Julian Gregory and Matthew Compton.

 

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore; My Little Suede Shoes; Bluesette; Misty; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Moon River; So Nice; Take the A Train; Little Sunflower; Body and Soul; Tenor Madness; Got Bless the Child; Perfidia; I've Got the World on a String.

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