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.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Brad Linde's Continentals @ The Globe, Newcastle - July 18

© Ken Drew
Brad Linde (alto sax); Eli Thayer (guitar); Duncan Kremer (double bass); Nemo Ganguli (drums)

Brad Linde was making a first visit to Britain. This Newcastle Jazz Co-op gig, sandwiched between a week long run of dates in Scotland and a London appearance, attracted  a fair few regulars and a party all the way from North Carolina. The 'international' audience knew its Konitz from its Coleman, Frisell and co. 

The trio (Linde biding his time at the bar) opened without fanfare. An unannounced first number, very Frisellian, showcased the guitar playing of Linde's fellow countryman Eli Thayer. Currently based in Glasgow, Thayer's approach to his instrument placed him firmly in the improviser's camp, so much so he could have stepped out of the ranks of the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra. 

© Ken Drew
Linde knew Lee Konitz and, to an extent, the Konitz influence was evident in his playing. The figure of Ornette Coleman loomed large. Whatever the material  - Paul Motian's Johnny Broken Wing, AC Jobim's Luiza, Jerome Kern's All the Things You Are, Cole Porter's What is This Thing Called Love? - Coleman was Linde's touchstone. Guitarist Thayer proved to be an empathetic, angular foil, all the while bassist Duncan Kremer and drummer Nemo Ganguli were more than comfortable with whatever was thrown their way. It had been an evening of understated 'cool school' jazz, rarely sparking, perhaps that was the objective. Russell              
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