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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Album (double) review: Doncaster Jazz Alumni - 50 Years

A rip-roaring  double CD big band album by musicians who, over the past 50 years, found their jazz chops with the Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra. It's a celebration of the remarkable journey and enduring legacy of its founder, John Ellis MBE.

Ellis, along with fellow MDs Reuben Fowler and Al Wood, remains at the helm for a program of contemporary charts as well a few originals one of which was a specially commissioned composition from renowned big band composer Tony Kubis. The title, You Know it Makes Sense, seemingly one of Ellis' favourite expressions.

Think Thad Jones and Mel Lewis or the Clarke Boland Big Band and you're in the ball park with the soloists hitting as many home runs as their illustrious predecessors. 

The soloists include many well known names (see graphic below) and all are at the top their game.

However, apart from the soloists, the section work is a masterclass as to how a section should sound. Listen to the out chorus by the reeds on Reuben Fowler's transcription of Francy Boland's Sax no End followed by the brass climax - like wow!

The album is released by top UK jazz label Ubuntu Music on Nov. 24. For an album that's hypothetically been 50 years in the making that's not too long to wait. In the meantime, listen to Hello and Goodbye (highlighted below) to whet your appetite. Lance

CD1: Hello and Goodbye; You Know it Makes Sense; Mandeville; Over the Top; Bitter Suite; Body and Soul

CD2: Victor; Naima; Elegant People; My Favorite Things; Show me the Way to go Home; Sax no End

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1 comment :

Ken Marley said...

Just listened to ‘Body and Soul’ and it sounds amazing ! Beautiful Piano/Double bass/Drums intro ( great sounding double bass playing ) then carry’s on with great arranging section work too. Love It !

Saturday, October 28, 2023 10:48:00 am

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