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.

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Lindsay Hannon's Tom Waits for No Man @ 1719, Sunderland - April 19

(© Ken Drew)
Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Brendan Murphy (percussion, old boot & spanner)  

Sunderland has never been known as a jazz stronghold. However, Seventeen Nineteen's Old Black Cat Jazz Club is going from strength to strength. Located in the historic Hendon area of Sunderland on the south bank of the Wear, the recently renovated '1719' Georgian church is a cultural gem offering a wide range of community activities and jazz is very much part of the 'offer'.  

This evening's concert presented Lindsay Hannon's loving take on Tom Waits. Joined by pianist Alan Law, bassist Paul Grainger and percussionist Brendan Murphy, Lindsay walked out onto the stage to a full house.  

(© Ken Drew)
Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis sung in a church on the banks of the Wear. To coin a phrase: You couldn't make it up! The 'congregation', that's Lindsay's fan base, roared its approval. Chocolate Jesus - yep, Lindsay did it again. Naughty Lindsay! Cold Cold Ground, Alan Law in gospel mode on Picture in a Frame, Law the ideal pianist on a set like this.

(© Ken Drew)
Heartattack and Vine 
(Lindsay's flawless reading of the lyric), Warm Beer and Cold Women, a brief departure from the Waitsian evening heard Lindsay singing Robert Johnson's Stop Breakin' Down Blues (a blues singer is Wor Lindsay), then returning to her main subject - Mr Tom Waits. Lindsay/Tom Waits called the operator, asking to speak to Martha. Lindsay, Alan and Paul will be doing it all again on Sunday afternoon at Holy GrAle in Durham. 

Next month (May 17) the Old Black Cat Jazz Club presents Emma Fisk's superb Hot Club du Nord. Russell

1 comment :

Patti said...

And don't forget Paul Grainger's masterful recitation of of Frank's Wild Years and his Final Meltdown - he never could stand that dog, poor mixed up Frank!

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