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, March 04, 2024

Derrick Harris Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 3

 (© Jeff Pritchard)
Derrick Harris (guitar); Darren Lloyd (trumpet/flugel); José Canha (bass); Paul Smith (drums).

On previous visits to the Railway Derrick has used a keyboard player, usually Andrzej Baranek but for this gig he had as his front-line partner Darren Lloyd a fine musician who I have not had the pleasure of hearing before. My friend Jeff tells me that Darren played here recently as part of the Mike Hall Octet but I missed that gig. If you like the Chet Baker style of playing as I do then you will like Darren’s sound and he did a great job of sight reading Derrick’s interesting charts.


I liked all the eleven tunes that were played, even I'll Remember April which was played three times in two weeks at the Railway by various bands. I thought that the Luiz Bonfá composition Samba de Orpheu worked well and one thing I have noticed is that although the guitarist was using foot-pedals they were used sparingly and were  not intrusive. Recently there have been quite a number of guitar players here at the Railway and I must say that the more I hear Derrick Harris the more I like what he is doing. I was also impressed with the rhythm section and the great groove that they established. It was good to see Paul Smith using his brushes to enhance the music.


The next jazz night at the Railway is on Tues March 5 with the Ed Kainyek Quartet. Mike Farmer

 

Days Gone By; Sandu; Zig Zag; Sometime Ago; Samba de Orpheu; Shiny Stockings; Can’t Dance; One Morning In May; Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me; White Rabbit; I'll Remember April.

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