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 01, 2023

Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Dec. 1

Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards); Alan Rudd (double bass); Jimmy Robinson (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals)

A classic winter scene greeted Classic Swing in Cullercoats. Snow on the ground, more of the white stuff threatening to fall from the skies, it was heartening to see such a good turn out at the Crescent Club. It takes more than a cold snap to deter the hardy jazz fan. 

As always, Tommy Moran's Classic Swing opened the show. The regular frontline - Jim McBriarty, Alan Marshall and Neville Hartley - sounded in fine form, pianist Jeremy McMurray and the rhythm section - Alan Rudd and depping drummer Jimmy Robinson - equally on the money. Some Ellington (Stevedore Stomp a good one), Olive Rudd singing a few, Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland for starters, Messrs McBriarty and Hartley taking one or two vocals themselves, in between blowing some great stuff. Classic fayre from Classic Swing. 

The interval. No fewer than five raffle prizes were set down on your correspondent's table. A sure sign...surely? As the tickets were drawn out of a hat, all five prizes went elsewhere, one of them to a member of the band! Did someone call for a public enquiry?!              

Second set, more classic jazz. Tangerine motored along, I Never Slept a Wink Last Night (a tune unfamiliar to your correspondent), a winning, albeit unseasonal Summertime (excellent tenor solo from A. Marshall), N. Hartley singing One Hundred Years from Today, this first day of December gig swept away a cold North Sea wind. When My Dreamboat Comes Home and that was about it, a canny session. Russell     

Set list: Classic SwingDon't Get Around Much AnymoreMeet Me Tonight in DreamlandSomeday SweetheartStevedore StompI'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a LetterJust FriendsTangerineI Never Slept a Wink Last NightDon't Sit Under the Apple TreeSummertimeWhen My Dreamboat Comes Home

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