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.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Paul Hartley Trio w. Jeff Guntren @ the Railway, Stockport - May 28

© Jeff Pritchard
Jeff Guntren  (tenor sax); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

Although it was a Tuesday night there was a really good turnout to hear Jeff Guntren who is originally from Davenport, Iowa but now resides in Bramhall which is quite close to Stockport. I noticed that there were a lot of new faces among the audience and by the time the band were ready to start, all seats had been taken. Those who had not seen Jeff before must surely have been impressed with his big sound and very modern concept as demonstrated on the opening number I'll Remember April. A total of nine tunes were played, most of which would be familiar to jazz fans apart from maybe Maiden Voyage which is usually played by trumpeters. Freddie Hubbard did a great version on Blue Note, 


I was pleased to see Ken Marley on bass and we had an interesting chat during the interval. He told me how much he'd enjoyed his recent visits to the north east working with singer Jo Harrop. He was originally from Newcastle but now lives in the Stockport area and frequently plays here with Paul Hartley’s trio. He sounded on top form tonight and together with Eryl on drums they made things swing along nicely.


I liked the choice of tune to end what had been a most entertaining evening of modern jazz, Monk’s Blue Monk which had Jeff Guntren once again giving us his take on the 12 bar blues. This reminded me of the time I worked as a car salesman selling Ford cars and had to attend meetings at Birmingham N.E.C. When they unveiled the new Fiestas they used Blue Monk as a theme tune. I hope Monk got well paid for that!


The next jazz night at the Railway will be on June 2 with Andy Scott and the Dave Hassell Trio. Mike Farmer

 

I'll Remember April; Maiden Voyage; Blues In the Closet; Autumn Leaves; Darn That Dream; I Hear a Rhapsody; Corcovado; On Green Dolphin Street. Blue Monk.

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