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, December 08, 2023

Album review: Lauren Bush - Tide Rises

Lauren Bush (voice); Liam Dunachie (piano/Rhodes); Dave Manington (bass on 4 tks); Conor Chaplin (bass on 5 tks); Nick Costley-White (guitar on 4 tks); David Ingamells (drums) + Martin Shaw  (trumpet on tk 7) 

Canadian born, London based, Bush, a finalist in the 2016 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, is no stranger to these pages. Apart from having the personal pleasure of reviewing her previous albums, one of which, Dream Away, made our top ten vocal albums of 2021. This one, although a late entry, is a shoo-in to make this years list. I was also delighted when Lauren put in a shift as a BSH reviewer back in 2020.* 


There's a magnetism about her interpretation of the varied material on offer. From the swinging opener Joy Spring with its amazing scat choruses to some of the more introspective moments such as Joni's Circle Game or the intro to Oh What a Beautiful Morning. The Oklahoma tune ups sticks when Ingamells hits the skins in the finale!

I thought that Cécile had laid down the definitive contemporary version of Nobody Else But me. However, the jury's now out on that one!

Happier on my Own has, apart from the singer, some fine trumpet from Martin Shaw. I think Lauren also did something with Larry Hart's lyric! It didn't do any harm.

This is Always: ballad singing at its best with Dunachie providing the cushion to a beautiful vocal that Ella or Billie would have loved - or maybe have wanted to scratch her eyes out!

A classy singer with some great musicians playing across the genres. 
Love it. Lance
Available on Mighty Quinn.


Joy Spring; Tide Rises; Madrugada; Circle Game; Easy Does it; Nobody Else But me; Happier on my Own; Oh What a Beautiful Morning; This is Always; Only You

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