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.

Monday, December 23, 2024

Mike Hall Quartet @ the Moor Club, Heaton Moor, nr Stockport - Dec. 22

© Jeff Pritchard
Mike Hall (tenor sax); John Ellis (keys); Ed Harrison (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums)

Mike played some interesting tunes tonight including the opening number, Cole Porter's Everything I Lovewhich I must admit was new to me even though I’m a big Cole Porter fan. This was followed by Song for Abdullah from the pen of Kenny Barron. 


Making his first visit to the Moor Club was John Ellis who I had not seen for a while and I liked his solo on Bob Mintzer’s Church Song during which he got a Hammond organ sound out of his Nord keyboard which was highly effective.


The first set ended with Steve Waterman's arrangement of White Christmas.


The second set commenced with Midnight Voyage by pianist Joey Calderazzo and was followed by the Frank Foster tune Shiny Stockings, a number enhanced by a solo from bass maestro Ed Harrison. 


The second Steve Waterman number of the evening, October Arrival, was well received by the audience which included many local musicians as well as several newcomers to the venue. Gaz Hughes got into some explosive drumwork on the last tune which was Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas.   


There is no jazz at the Moor Club on Dec. 29 but Mike Hall is at the Saisons in Didsbury on that day. The next jazz night at the Moor Club will be on Jan. 5 with Richard Iles. Ben Crosland, and Jamie Taylor. Mike Farmer


Everything I Love; Song for Abdullah; Alone Together; Church Song; White Christmas; Midnight Voyage;  Shiny Stockings; October Arrival; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

1 comment :

Nina F said...

Very fine and merry gig ,lovely atmosphere in the new Stockport Jazz venue

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