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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

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.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Monday, November 06, 2023

Dave Lynane Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Nov. 5

 (© Jeff Pritchard)

Dave Lynane  (bass); Al Wood (alto sax); Martin Longhawn (keys); Dave Hassell  (drums).

A band comprised of three veterans of the UK jazz scene and one young looking keyboard player resulting in the sort of bop-influenced straight ahead modern jazz that I like to hear. Dave Lynane and Al Wood were part of the Maynard Ferguson UK Big Band that I have great memories of and Dave Hassell is still very active being for many years involved in various forms of music and related education. Martin Longhawn I know very little about but he sounded like he knew what he was doing and I will be seeing him again in Leeds at Seven Arts on Nov 16 when he will be part of the Greg Abate Quartet.

The band opened with a couple of classic tunes from the bop era, Jordu and Dat Dere the former composed by Duke Jordan but made famous by Clifford Brown. The second tune was written by Bobby Timmons and I remember Oscar Brown Jnr having a big hit with a vocal version. Al Wood has a big sound on alto and he sounds like he may have been influenced by Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods, and maybe Jackie McLean. He brought along a soprano but it stayed on its stand. 

They played ten tunes, five per set and they were all holding my interest including a tune by Bobby Shew Breakfast Wine. I also liked his closing number Horace Silver’s Opus de Funk which was given a nifty arrangement and had a solo spot for Dave Hassell which brought to a close a most satisfying evening of modern jazz.     

The next jazz night at the Railway will be on Tuesday Nov 7 with Max Rosen piano and the Sam Lightwing sax quartet. Mike Farmer 

Jordu; Dat Dere; The Real Thing; What Is This Thing Called Love?; One Note Samba; Secret Love; Breakfast Wine; Joy Spring; A Flower is a Lonesome Thing; Opus de Funk

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