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

18413 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 277 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 7 ) 11,

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

April

Thu 09: Tom Remon + Laurence Harrison @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.
Thu 09: Michael Littlefield @ The Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Blues.
Thu 09: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra w. Dan Johnson @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. £15.00. inc. bf.

Fri 10: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels: Celebrating Wes Montgomery @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Joe Steels, Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Gambling Janes @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £10.00.
Fri 10: Jake Leg Jug Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 10: Steve White Trio @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £20.00. + bf. Soul Drum (Acid Jazz Records) album tour.

Sat 11: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £26.80.

Sun 12: Swing Social @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Admission: Donations (£5.00. - £10.00. suggested). Swing dance taster class, social dancing to Niffi Osiyemi Trio, DJs. Non dancers welcome. A Cluny-Swing Tyne event.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Trio Grand @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30-9:30pm. £10.84.
Sun 12: SH#RP Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 13: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 14: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 14: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Album review: Dara Starr Tucker - Time Wouldn't Wait (Green Hill)

Dara Starr Tucker (vocals); Gary Versace (piano, organ); Larry Goldings (piano tks 8, 9); Simon Moullier (vibes); Rod McGaha (trumpet); Vicente Archer (bass);Greg Bryant (bass tks 8, 9); Marcus Finnie (drums); Christian Euman (drums tks 8, 9)

The blurb tells me that vocalist, songwriter and cultural commentator Dara Starr Tucker returns with her most emotionally resonant album to date. The blurbist goes on to describe Time Wouldn't Wait as a soul-stirring collection exploring the passage of time, impermanence and the power of presence. I also learned that the album's blending of original compositions with cinematic reimagining of songs from classic and contemporary films have created a deeply introspective examination of the fragility and fullness of time.

It's all of those things - I think - although, despite the big hitters in the band, it's not an easy album to pigeonhole. I think 'jazz' just about covers it - just about.

Tucker has a pleasing voice that sits comfortably on top of the backing and, the more I listen, the more the jazz floats to the surface. She also composed words and music for seven of the eleven tracks. Both the voice and the songs remind me of Janis Ian which isn't a bad place to be.

Both keyboardists impress. Versace has five tracks on piano and four on organ with Goldings picking up the other two. Moullier on vibes and McGaha also have their moments.

All in all it's an album well worth checking out via the usual suspects (23 arrests - no convictions). Release date is August 15. Lance

Shining (It's my Time)*; Pure Imagination**; Tall Georgia Pines*; What Was I Made For***; Time Wouldn't Wait*; Twilight and Mist****; Happy to be Loving You*; Brick Wall*; The Space*; Waiting For the Night*; I Have Dreamed*****

    *      Comp. Dara Starr Tucker. 
   **     Comp. Newley, Bricusse.
  ***    Comp. Finneas O'Connell, Billie Eilish.
 ****   Comp.James Horner, Brock Walsh.
*****  Comp. Rodgers & Hammerstein

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

I’ve heard Dara in the States. She’s excellent. Someone should take a chance and get her into Ronnie Scott’s.

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