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

18402 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 31 ), 76

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

April

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Sat 04: Jake Leg Jug Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Anthropology. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £10.00.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free Quintet + guest Neil Brodie (trumpet).
Sun 05: Mark Williams & Tom Remon @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Jazzmain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 07: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums).

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Zoë Gilby & Johnny Hunter @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 09: Tom Remon + A.N. Other @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra w. Dan Johnson @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. £15.00. inc. bf.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Album review: Yellowjackets - Fasten Up (Mack Avenue- Mac1217)

Bob Mintzer (tenor sax, EWI); Russell Ferrante (piano); Dane Alderson (bass); Will Kennedy (drums) + Raul Midón (vocals on The Lion)

Grammy Award winning Yellowjackets have just released their 27th studio album, Fasten Up. Formed in 1981 with long-time members Russell Ferrante and Will Kennedy still aboard they’re joined by saxophonist, Bob Mintzer (since 1990) and Australian bassist, Dane Alderson, who is now celebrating a decade with the group.

Fasten Up bursts with unbridled momentum spurred on with a vibrant blend of styles borrowing from old and new in equal measure. The disc hotfoots it out of the blocks with a 1960s'  classic Comin' Home Baby (penned by bassist, George Tucker) and covered by the likes of Herbie Mann, Mel Tormé and Quincy Jones among many others. Mintzer’s arrangement gives it a refreshingly updated treatment. His doubling of the melody on tenor and EWI along with his added re-harmonisations catapult this 60 year perennial chestnut well into the millennium.

Alderson’s title tune bustles with its 1970s innovative and infectious grooves of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters. A “thrustworthy” contribution indeed! Described by the composer as “a fun party tune which is fun to jam on amongst unexpected drum grooves”. Indeed so and not least for Alderson’s dusting off the cobwebs of the classic Fender Precision bass  giving it more authenticity to the proceedings.

Ferrante’s unique and powerful contributions include The Unexpected Question- a reflective opus that brings about contrast to this collection. Mintzer’s poignantly stated melody bears a somewhat foreboding and uncertaint quality, resulting in a welcome sonic atmosphere. Exhibiting the breadth and variety that Yellowjackets bring to the party.

Fasten Up clearly offers up a communal joy wedded with the thrill of discovery bristling forth with elan. This legendary ensemble shows no signs of slowing down and this album is testimonial to this. Long may they continue. Frank Griffith*

BANDCAMP

Comin' Home Baby; Fasten Up; Will Power; November 8; The Truth of You; The Lion; Swingmeister General; An Interesting Dream; Broken; The Unexpected Question: Xemens

*Frank Griffith is a Liverpool based saxophonist and arranger. His trio will be appearing at the annual Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival on April 21 at 6:00PM.

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