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, June 02, 2025

Swing Manouche @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - June 2

Martin Winning (clarinet); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (rhythm guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass)

Sunny Blyth! Not one (Yamaha Music School), but two music schools, and a brand new arts centre under construction, not to mention the reopening of mothballed railway lines, south east Northumberland is where it's all happening. 

And this afternoon, Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche was making a welcome return to Seaforth Street. A warm welcome from Steven, proprietor of the Yamaha Music School, a coffee, a chat with him, him and her, and, before we knew it, Swing Manouche opened with Coquette. All four musicians would take solos during the set, string bassman Paul Grainger the first of them to do so. 

Mick Shoulder shone on Anniversary Song, in truth, bandleader Shoulder shone on each and every number - mighty fine guitar playing. Danse Norvegienne concluded with Martin Winning's stupendous cadenza. Bravo!

Irving Berlin's Russian Lullaby, the musette form MystérieuseDjangology and more, all were underpinned by Dave Smith's immaculate rhythm guitar playing. Bravo! 

And then there was Martin Winning. Monsieur Winning is a very busy musician and when he is available, Monsieur Shoulder makes a point of booking him. The party-piece set closing Dark Eyes - Winning winding it up, then winding it up some more - won huge applause. Bravo!

And that was it...except the boys were enjoying themselves and wanted to play another one. And so to All of Me. Swing Manouche is a band well worth checking out. Monday August 18, Blaydon Jazz Club, guess who'll be there? Oui, Swing Manouche. See you there. Russell    
    
Set list: CoquetteAnniversary SongDanse NorvegienneRussian LullabyMystérieuseJe suis seul ce soirBei Mir Bist du SchoenOuiDark EyesAll of Me.  

2 comments :

Mick Shoulder said...

Thanks Russell

Anonymous said...

It was a wonderful set - all that great jazz, and played by these top class guys. An excellent choice of numbers too, for the short set - the audience loved it all.

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