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, September 04, 2023

Sunday night @ the Globe: the Tango Jazz Quartet - Sept. 3

(© Sheila Herrick)

Gustavo Firmenich (tenor sax, clarinet); Santiago Villalba (piano); Martín Rao de Vita (bass guitar): Ezequiel Vargas (drums)

Most of the jazzheads were absent. However, the tangophiles more than made up for it. The room was close to bursting point, chairs were at a premium and the bar staff were kept busy.

The Tango Jazz Quartet have been regular visitors to the Globe over the years even Covid didn't stop them, they posted a livestream from Buenos Aires.

Their concept is an interesting one, blowing jazz over traditional Argentinian rhythms such as the tango, the milonga and maybe the habanera. It works.

I made no attempt to note the titles as, although Firmenich's English is better than my Spanish it wasn't always easy to comprende

(© Dave Parker)

It didn't matter, his music speaks for itself. At times his big sound on tenor was reminiscent of Ben Webster whilst he displayed a fluency on clarinet that many a lesser player would die for.

On piano, Villalba also displayed a formidable technique bringing to mind another great Argentinian pianist Lalo Schifrin who I heard many years ago with Dizzy. 

Rao de Vita impressed on bass guitar as did Vargas who handled the many tempo changes with ease.

I look forward to their next visit maybe I'll have learned to tango by then - maybe! Lance

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