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.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

Album review: Alexia Gardner - Feeling the Love

Alexia Gardner (vocals); Linus Wyrsch (tenor sax, clarinet); Hyuna Park (piano); Martin Pizzarelli (bass); George Gray (drums)

Alexia Gardner's Feeling the Love, Songs of My Mother, Songs of My Father was recorded in 2023 in New Jersey, USA. The album comprises ten tracks, ranging from a Bob Dylan number and a Ben E King classic to Miles Davis and Lauryn Hill. It is striking Ms Gardner frequently performs with minimal or no accompaniment at all. And it's all the more striking considering the musicians featured on the album are New York A-listers!

Track one, Forever Young (B. Dylan) is a daring introduction as Gardner sings a cappella. Great Day (V. Youmans) features Gardner and drummer George Gray, just the two of them, voice and skittering brushes. My Life (comp. Owen Gardner) once again sung a cappella, is brief and to the point. Alfie works as a voice-piano duet with Hyuna Park and the album's closing number, Lauryn Hill's Tell Him, features Ms Gardner and bassist Martin Pizzarelli effortlessly embracing Bob Marley. 

Linus Wyrsch blows excellent bluesy tenor sax on God Bless the Child, on Milestones the band pulls out into the fast lane (fasten your seat belts), and Miss Celie's Blues leaves the listen in no doubt whatsoever, Alexia Gardner sure can sing a blues!  

Clocking in at a shade over 35 minutes, Feeling the Love is a fine album, and for newcomers to the art of Alexia Gardner, it cannot fail to impress. To enquire about purchasing a copy of the album, contact Alexia at: www.alexiajazz.com or buy a CD at a gig*.    

Forever Young; God Bless the Child; Great Day; Stand By Me; My Life; Alfie; Milestones; Theme from Mahogany; Miss Celie's Blues; Tell Him. 

The north east of England's regional jazz scene - geographically, that's Tyne and Wear, north into Northumberland and south into County Durham - has a new star in its midst. Alexia Gardner has an established international career and it's great news the Birmingham born, globetrotting vocalist has chosen to put down roots here in the region. 

* The next opportunity to catch Alexia Gardner in concert is tomorrow (Sunday 29 December, 8:00pm) at the Globe on Railway Street in Newcastle where she will be working alongside Harry Keeble, Alan Law, Jude Murphy and Abbie Finn. Tickets are scarce, book now - www.theglobenewcastle.bar- or risk being turned away at the door! Russell          
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