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.

Tuesday, April 09, 2024

Remembering Shorty Rogers

(© Lance)
This Sunday, April 14, marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of trumpet player, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers. 

Rogers, born on the above date in 1924 died on November 7, 1994. In between he played in the trumpet sections of Woody Herman and Stan Kenton contributing several charts to the libraries of both bands.

After leaving Kenton he settled in Los Angeles and recorded several albums for RCA including the timeless 10" classic COOL AND CRAZY. One of the best albums that ever emerged from that part of America, it included the cream of L.A.'s jazz scene. The mega-swinging Sweetheart of Sigmund Freud has the four saxes - Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper and Jimmy Giuffre - playing the head on baritone. Surely a first!

Rogers also composed and arranged soundtracks for several television shows and Hollywood movies including a Tarzan film.

(© Lance)
Away from the world of jazz and film he also, in conjunction with Jimmy Haskell, arranged Bobby Gentry's iconic hit Ode to Billie Joe as well as the Monkees' Daydream Believer.

In 1984, along with Bud Shank, he appeared at the Newcastle Jazz Festival at what was then the University Theatre. Martin Drew was on drums and John Critchinson was on piano but can anyone identify the bass player in the photo? Lance

4 comments :

Russell said...

Ron Mathewson?

Peter Bevan said...

Almost certainly Ron Mathewson; they were recorded in Southampton in May 1984, presumably the same tour.

N Armstrong said...

Five stars for Cool and Crazy!

Bernard McAlinden said...

I'm pretty sure that the bass player is RON MATTHEWSON while the drummer looks very much like KENNY CLARE.

Blog Archive