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, February 28, 2025

Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle - Feb. 27

© Ken Drew
Jamie McCredie (guitar) + James Birkett  (guitar)

They turned out for this one. A full house, comprising the usual Railway Street habitué, the never-seen-before type and a gig bag full of of guitarists. Jamie McCredie is from these neck of the woods but for many a year has made London his home. This flying (rail) visit (arrive on gig day, depart early next day) found Jamie in great form - on and off stage. A friendly smile to greet everyone, Jamie knew many of the friendly faces walking through the door. 

© Ken Drew
Two sets of astounding guitar playing fusing jazz and classical idioms, if ever the phrase 'pin drop silence' applied to a gig, this was it. All anyone could hear was Jamie playing guitar - no coughing, no sneezing, no clinking of glasses, just Jamie and his guitar. Jobim (The Girl from Ipanema, Corcovado), As Light Grows Longer (comp. J. McCredie) and more. Jamie invited James Birkett to join him for the first set's closing number, Jerome Kern's All the Things You Are. Magnificent!



© Ken Drew
Second set, more of the same. Night Butterflies (comp. J. McCredie), Stevie Wonder (Don't You Worry Bout a Thing, Isn't She Lovely), Bert's Tune (comp. J. McCredie), Harold Arlen's Somewhere Over the Rainbow and onto the evening's finale as Dr Birkett once more joined Jamie to play a couple of tunes - Billie's Bounce then, to sign off, Cherokee. It had been a truly memorable evening. Russell            
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