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, March 17, 2025

Sunday night @ the Globe: Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ) - March 16

© Sheila Herrick
Alison Rayner (bass. bass guitar); Deirdre Cartwright (guitar); Steve Lodder (piano); Diane McLoughlin (tenor/soprano sax); Buster Birch (drums)

The scenes in Newcastle were incredible it was like V.E. Day (ask your grandad). The streets were crowded, car horns were tooting stentorian fanfares and if you weren't wearing black and white you were either an alien from Mars or from Sunderland. Newcastle United had triumphed at Wembley! After almost 70 years of pain they'd finally delivered the goods.

Down at the Globe it was also happening, the crowdfunder target had been reached and the Alison Rayner Quintet were on stage - all this in one day! Surely I was dreaming...

However, Buster Birch's opening drum break cut through like a Dan Burn header and I knew I wasn't dreaming.

Most of the compositions throughout the two sets were from ARQ's recent album SEMA4 which I reviewed HERE last month.

Hearing them played live was even better again. This was  music you wanted to take home with you, to relive each magic moment. Unlike so many originals, the music and the title are relevant to each other proving you can listen to a picture - particularly when ARQ are providing the textures.

Five (or eleven) individuals, their unique talents coming together as one. McLoughlin - a tone to die for on both saxes. Cartwright - jazz, blues, rock, you name it she's got it! Rayner - the sun around whom her satellites orbit. Lodder - original piano stylist incorporating flowery classical flourishes into rich harmonic jazz structured solos. Birch - driving the bus like a a Joe Linton tackle or an Alexander Izak goal.

The crowded room, in true Oliver Twist tradition, demanded  more and they got it although I didn't get the title.

Outside the party continued - it would go on to the last man standing or the pubs ran dry! Lance 

Espiritu Libre; There is a Crack in Everything; Looking for a Quiet Place; The Handkerchief Tree; Swanage Bat; Buster Breaks a Beat; Hamble Horror; Signals From Space; All Will be Well; Trip Dance; Riding the Waves

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