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.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Alan Barnes @ The Moor Club, Stockport - Sept. 21

© Jeff Pritchard
Alan Barnes (clarinet, alto/baritone sax); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums) + Mike Hall (tenor sax on 2 numbers).

This was mentioned in the latest flyer as Stockport Jazz's first anniversary celebration and due to this  being on the same weekend as a Greater Manchester bus drivers' strike I had decided  not to attend. However,  I had a chance meeting with promotor Graham Brook who lives close by and he offered to share a taxi which meant I could go after all. Thanks also to his friend Steve who organised the transport and we arrived at the Moor Club at 7:45pm to find the place was jam packed with fans.

Once again I must thank my friend drummer Tim Franks for inviting me to join  him at his front row table and I decided there was no room to make notes so I decided not to do a normal review. 

By now most jazz fans have heard Alan  Barnes and he still manages to amaze everyone by making jazz look easy. Local tenor saxman Mike Hall sat in on Just Friends and Joy Spring.  The number that I liked best was Oh Grand Amour which Alan played on baritone. He also impressed me with an uptempo  outing on I'll Remember April.

This coming Sunday (Sept. 28) the West Coast Jazz Octet will be featured. Mike Farmer

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