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.

Sunday, August 06, 2023

Preview: Newcastle Jazz Festival - Sunday August 20

Two weeks today we'll be in the home straight. The fifth and final day of this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival is set to reach a climax at Tyne Bank Brewery. Wednesday we were at the Globe, Thursday the Bridge Hotel, Friday in the Black Swan and Saturday the first of two days on Walker Road. Now to Sunday ... 

Trumpeter Graham Hardy and pianist Stu Collingwood set the ball rolling at half past one. Some fifty minutes later it's the turn of tenor saxophonist Matthew Forster. The Strictly Smokin' Big Band's tenor man brings in his top flight quartet for what promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend. 

Two of a Mind is a recently formed meeting of musical minds. They just happen to sit together in the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's reeds, however, Steve Summers and Sue Ferris are vastly experienced performers in a wide range of musical contexts and their shared love of the musical collaboration of Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan sparked the idea that they are 'of like mind'. At 3:50pm Steve and Sue will be joined by bassist Andy Champion and drummer Rob Walker. Don't miss their set!

A few years ago circumstances decreed the Slowlight Quartet would cease performing and recording. Times change and now they're back! A recent live recording session and the band's forthcoming festival appearance suggest the Slowlights are going to be around for the foreseeable future. Be sure to catch the quartet - Tom Quilliam, Paul Loraine, Ian Paterson and John Hirst - at five o'clock. 

To close a marvellous five days of top quality jazz, at 6:15pm the vibraphone takes centre stage. Jonny Mansfield has worked with many 'names', too many to mention. An early Tyneside appearance (2016) found him working alongside Alexander Bone in Jam Experiment (Jam Experiment later morphing into Bonsai). This 2023 Newcastle Jazz Festival headline engagement sees Mansfield working with bassist Andy Champion and drummer Dave McKeague. Admission on the day is £18.00.. To see the full range of festival ticket options visit: www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk. Russell   
                    
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