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.

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Oct. 2

Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Brian Chester (piano); Dave Percy (bass); Scott Adair (drums) + Brian Lynham (harmonica); Matty McElvogue (trumpet); Maureen Hall, John Broddle, George (vocals)

Harmony Brass doesn't quite do what it says on the tin. Week-to-week Herbie Hudson provides the brass (trombone) and unless a sitter-in brings along some plumbing parts (saxophone, trumpet, trombone) that's about it in the brass department. What you do get with the resident band - Hudson, pianist Brian Chester, bassist Dave Percy and drummer Scott Adair - is a right old mix of right old numbers. And then there's the sitters-in...

Harmony Brass opened with Louisiana, yes, it was a Monday afternoon on Cullercoats Bay. The place was busy, more than, perhaps they were there for the raffle. Basin Street BluesGee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?, all of the band vocals handled by frontman Hudson. How Can You Face Me?Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me, the veteran Hudson kept the show moving along, sharing the soloist's spotlight with pianist Chester. The rhythm boys - Percy and Adair - didn't say much, in fact, they didn't say anything, preferring to get on with the job at hand.

My Mother's Eyes, featuring Brian Chester, prompted the mischievous Hudson to remind the audience they were listening to Richard Clayderman...Bobby Crush. Chester chose to ignore the jibe. In the run up to the interval and the much-anticipated raffle, No Time for Jive frontman Brian Lynham joined the party to play Georgia on my Mind. When's the last time two harmonicas featured on a gig? Probably the last time Lynham was down Cullercoats way.

The raffle came and went. The prizes going elsewhere. Resuming matters musical, Hudson sang There'll Be Some Changes Made. And, following that, some changes were made. Great to see Maureen Hall in the audience and, better still, our Rendezvous Jazz vocalist got up to sing a couple of numbers - Doctor Jazz and Ice Cream (the latter a vocal duet with the mischievous Hudson). The applause rang out.

Trumpeter Matty McElvogue joined the party to play Undecided followed by I'm Beginning to See the Light. Great stuff! Brian Lynham returned to regale all with Stormy Weather (sing along, now). If it's a Monday at the Crescent Club it's odds on John Broddle will put in an appearance. Sure enough, Mr B sang After You've Gone and a favourite of his and many in the audience, I'll See You in My Dreams. As the big hand approached three, it was rock 'n' roll medley time. It was time to go for the ever-unreliable Metro. Russell          

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