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, April 21, 2025

Sunday Night @ the Globe: C.A.L.I.E - April 20

© Ken Drew
Josie Birgis (alto/soprano sax); James Steele (tenor/baritone sax); Don Brown (keys); Kevin Henderson, Sam Parkinson (guitars); Ewan Hastie (bass guitar); Greg Irons (drums)

Seven incredibly talented Glasgow based musicians laid siege to the Globe last night with their near-unique brand of jazz/fusion.

Mainly original material, mainly by leader and front-person Birgis, plus a couple of covers made for an interesting evening although not all of the audience stayed the course.

C.A.L.I.E, like so many bands from north of the border, do oft incorporate the spirit of their native roots and this came to the fore in Moving On to the extent that I could almost imagine it being inspired by Jimmy Shand.

Needless to say, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year bass guitarist Ewan Hastie was well-featured and his awesome technique proved that he was a worthy winner of that prestigious award.

Birgis too impressed, leading from the front with confidence and no little skill.

Seven magnificent players and yet somehow, collectively, it didn't quite 'float my boat'. Perhaps it's because I prefer my genres to be unfused. Lance 

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