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.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Press release: Tonight @ the Globe - Ben Crosland Quartet

Founded in 2006, the Quartet features Ben Crosland (bass), Rod Mason (saxophones), Dean Stockdale (piano) and Dave Tyas (drums), all leading figures on the northern jazz scene. Each member of the band is a leader in his own right and this relaxed joining of kindred spirits produces an open, mature and energetic performance in which there are no conflicting egos, only a desire to enjoy each other’s company, play good music and entertain.

The band will feature material by contemporary composers including Jaco Pastorius, Bob Mintzer, Mike Mainieri and Don Grolnick as well as originals penned by Crosland, together with the occasional standard freshly realised.
For their gig at the Globe, the Quartet will be playing pieces from Ben’s album ‘Solway Stories’, an original set of compositions inspired by the landscape and legends of the Solway Firth and several of his arrangements of the iconic songs of the legendary Kinks’ songwriter Ray Davies featured on his album ‘The Ray Davies Songbook’.
“…the album swings consistently…with this sharp, cogent collection, a dedicated follower of Ray Davies has made him a well-respected jazz composer too.” – The Times

“Bass guitarist and composer Ben Crosland has fond memories of the countryside around the Solway Firth, and they inspired him to write these 12 musical vignettes. They have his typically light touch, the written parts and improvised solos deftly woven so that you scarcely notice the join. The pieces range from gently melodic to driving and intense.” – The Observer

“An unaffectedly lyrical composer of direct and evocative melodies that draw in the uninitiated and jazz cognoscenti alike.” – John Fordham, London Jazz News.

Also featuring support from Play More Jazz! a Globe Learning & Participation group lead by Steve Glendinning.

No comments :

Blog Archive