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.

Friday, October 27, 2023

After Hours Student Jazz Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle - Oct. 26

STARTING AT 8PM....FEEL FREE TO JOIN IN! That was the simple, straight forward invitation to participate in the latest Newcastle University student jam session. Facilitated by the institution's Head Of Brass, Jason Holcomb, the Globe's first floor performance space was abuzz with student chatter, instrument cases strewn across table and chairs.

A curated set list indicating the key for each number, this was the ideal introductory format for those wishing to gain experience in a jam session environment. Piano, bass and drums and a host of horn players and guitarists were in the house. Few were expecting brilliant contributions, this was more about taking part in a supportive, non-judgemental setting. 

One or two Black Swan jam session 'veterans' were in the house - Conor, trombone, Liam, guitar - otherwise a plethora of new faces got up to do their thing. By and large, MC Holcomb sat to one side, content to see how things developed. Fellow students whooped and hollered, offering every encouragement to their student friends. No names, no pack drill, save to say a tenor saxophonist is planning to make his bow at the next Black Swan jam session (Newcastle Arts Centre, Tuesday 7 November, 7:30pm), you could do worse than getting along to hear him. The After Hours Student Jazz Jam is, more or less, bi-monthly, keep an eye on BSH or the Globe's website for details of the next one. Russell         

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