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 18, 2024

Freddie Garner Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - March 17

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Freddie Garner (keys); Jim Collins (alto/tenor sax/flute); James Adolpho (bass); Phil Bennett (drums).

The Sunday night audience was a bit noisier than usual due to a few revellers celebrating St Patrick's day but it did not seem to bother Freddie who just keeps the bebop flame burning with his hard driving brand of modern jazz. There were lots of interesting numbers played by this excellent quartet including a tune called Little Bea’s Poem which was a flute feature for reed maestro Jim Collins who impressed me with his full sound achieved without the use of a mic. Who wrote this tune? I think it may be Woody Shaw but I could be wrong.


There were plenty of interesting moments during the evening including Sonny Stitt’s wonderful up-tempo flagwaver The Eternal Triangle,  Jim Collins really firing on all cylinders during his solo. You don’t hear many local combos tackle this one, it’s a real fingerbuster!  I also like Jim’s alto playing on the ballad When Sunny Gets Blue that reminded me of jam sessions back in the day and Charlie Parker was the main influence. Another number I thought went down well was the Latin flavoured Catalonian Nights often attributed to Dexter Gordon but composed by Tete Montolui. The final tune was Four and this contained some nifty drumming from Phil Bennett and agile bass work from James Adolpho. Well done all involved. 


There isn't any jazz on March 19 but on Sunday March 24 it will be guitarist Tom Ramon’s quartet featuring American guitarist Sid Jacobs.

 

Joy Spring; Jeaninne; Little Bea’s Poem; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; When Sunny Gets Blue; Eternal Triangle; I Mean You; Time After Time; You Don’t Know What Love Is; Catalonian Nights; Four.

1 comment :

Patti said...

We'll be seeing guitar stars Sid Jacobs and Tom Ramon in Newcastle upon Tyne very soon as well. Sunday 31 March in that great little venue, the Prohibition Cabaret Bar - at 7pm ...... get there early to grab a seat!

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