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.

Friday, May 30, 2025

Album review: Kneebody - Reach (GroundUP Music)

Ben Wendel (sax, effects, comp tks 1,2,5,9); Shane Endsley (trumpet, effects, bass synth, conp tks 3,6,7); Adam Benjamin (keys, comp tks 4,8); Nate Wood (drums and bass)

John McDonough gives Reach three stars in the June edition of DownBeat which seems a little generous although, in fairness, two of their other reviewers each give it four stars, so what do I know?!

It's difficult to say who's doing what with what as the cacophonous mix of  the various effects tend to blur boundaries. However, there are moments when sanity prevails and the result isn't too far away from what I call music.

Nate Wood is listed as playing drums and bass simultaneously - he must be a scream at Xmas parties. The horns have technique to spare and when they do use it sparingly it comes within touching distance.

It's not an album to listen to on the car stereo, it needs to be given as much attention as you would give to the driver in the Beemer who just cut you up on the motorway.

If you can steel yourself to repeated listening you could find yourself surprised at the detail you missed the first time round. Perhaps you might even mellow - I'm still at the embryo stage. Lance 

Repeat After me; Reach; Natural Bridge; Glimmer; Another One; Top Hat; Lo Hi; Long Walk; Say So.

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