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, December 18, 2023

Album review: Gemma Sherry - Gazing at Stars

Gemma Sherry (vocals); Kenny Barron (piano); Ron Carter (bass on 5 tks); Paul Bollenback (guitar on 4 tks); George Coleman (drums on 3 tks)

This is the fourth album of Gemma Sherry's that I've reviewed for BSH which gives an indication of how high I rate her. Indeed if it had arrived a couple of weeks earlier it may have made my 2023 top ten vocal albums - maybe, it would have been close given this year's contenders.

The material is top class GASbook material and the simpatico accompaniment by Barron is as close as that (musically speaking) between a pair of ring-necked doves during the mating season. Occasionally, Sherry overdoes the vibrato at the end of a phrase which grates ever so slightly but not enough to hurt.

The tracks with guitar, bass and drums add a different dimension, swingier. Born to be Blue is quite something else. However, it's the duo version of Blame it on my Youth that gets the cigar. This a song that is so absolutely perfect for a singer who puts her heart and soul into a lyric - Sherry does just that!

The tracks marked* are on previous albums albeit in different settings. Lance


Like Someone in Love; Crazy He Calls me; Save Your Love For me*; Lies of Handsome Men; Someone to Watch Over me; Some Other Time*; Inside a Silent Tear; Born to be Blue; Blame it on my Youth*; Detour Ahead; It Amazes me; This Will Make You Laugh; Body and Soul; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most*; Try Your Wings*
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