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.

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Gary Crosby Quintet @ Loughton Baptist Church - Oct. 25

Kurt Mayling (trumpet); David Kayode (tenor sax, flute); Alex Ho (keyboards); Gary Crosby (double bass); Miranda Radford (drums) + Orphy Robinson (introductions)

The National Jazz Archive, based in Loughton, Essex, is an invaluable resource. In addition to its ongoing archiving activities, the NJA presents concerts on a regular basis. Away from its Loughton Library base, Loughton Baptist Church serves as its performance venue. This Saturday afternoon's concert featured the Gary Crosby Quintet. 

Now seventy years old, it doesn't seem like five minutes since bassist Crosby was blazing a trail with the Jazz Warriors. Here in Loughton, billed as How to Train Your Cat, More Mingus Moves,  Crosby's bandmates were of a younger generation. For a musician of such status, Crosby didn't seek to hog the limelight, far from it, happily shining the spotlight on his young charges.

Amazingly, Kurt Mayling (trumpet), David Kayode (tenor sax, flute), Alex Ho* (keyboards) and drummer Miranda Radford (a second year Trinity student) seemed to know each and every Mingus number Crosby called. What's more, across the course of two sets, there wasn't so much as a single page of sheet music or an iPad to be seen anywhere, on stage or off. 

The NJA's audience knew its stuff, applauding long and loud, mightily impressed not only with Crosby, but with the remarkable array of young talent on show. As the afternoon drew to a close Gary Crosby looked at his bandmates, suggesting 'A Train'. A collective nod of heads. They played it and how! A fabulous afternoon.       
* A year or two ago Alex Ho made a big impression at the now closed Prohibition Bar, Newcastle, in a duo performance with guitarist Tom Remon. Russell    

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