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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

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.

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: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland - Feb. 24

Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

The best laid plans of mice and Tyne and Wear's Metro. Not one, but two new trains came and went, neither heading for Sunderland. Sometime later, much later, an old bone shaker pulled in. Sunderland here we come...

Better late than never, we rocked up at Sunderland's Engine Room, the Michael Young Trio in full flow. At the bar, no handpull. Food? The staff would ask the chef if he could be bothered. No handpull = Guinness. A pint of Dublin's finest, a plate of thick cut chips, fine dining here on Wearside. Where were we? Oh, yes, the Michael Young Trio - Young, piano, Paul Grainger, bass, Abbie Finn, drums. The Beatles' She's Leaving Home, the first of several by the Fab Four. Here, There and Everywhere, then the killer tune of the evening, a stonking take on Can't Buy Me Love, pianist Young outstanding.

Second set, standards, modern and not so modern. On Green Dolphin Street, Harry Warren's The More I See You (dancers taking to the floor), a Latin-to-Township number, All the Things You Are, the Michael Young Trio likes to mix it up. To finish, an unlikely set closer, My Funny Valentine

Metro's trains not withstanding, a trip to High Street West to hear the Michael Young Trio is recommended. Next one April. Stay tuned to BSH for further details.  Russell   

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