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, September 26, 2025

Album review: Aspyrian - Live at the Glad Cafe Jazz Festival (Hidden Threads Records)

Robin Porter (tenor/soprano sax); Jack Gillen (guitar) Matt Parkinson (drums)

An interesting album by a London band recorded live at the  Glad Jazz Festival last year. I scoured maps, both digital and physical, assuming Glad to be some distant Scandinavian jazz outpost. As it turned out Glad actually referred to an outpost closer to home - the Glad Cafe in Glasgow which is a prestigious community arts & music venue - not some greasy spoon!

Perhaps it's the community aspect that gives the album a rather attractive feeling of intimacy about it - almost as if the trio were playing in my own living room.

The more I listened, the more it grew upon me. Apart from their individual skills it's the way their various lines entwine. Sinuously complementing (and complimenting) each other with empathetic spontaneity. This is perhaps best personified in the final track - Lego. Just like trying to build the Taj Mahal with the Lego set you got for Xmas the pieces don't always fit as they should do but at the end of the day you find that your Taj is more futuristic looking than the original because, instead of copying, you've created! 

R.A.M.'s Pete Churchill describes the band thus: This trio brings together three of the most gifted young improvisers on the current scene.” 

I can't argue with that! Lance

Release date Oct. 17.

The Storyteller: Changing Tides; Borden Wood; Hymn For Jim; Lego.

All compositions are by Robin Porter apart from Borden Wood which is by Matt Parkinson

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