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.

Wednesday, December 03, 2025

Album review: Brad Schrader - Late Nights (self released)

Brad Schrader (vocals); Jerry Vezza (piano, M.D.); Alex Claffy (bass); Andrew Van Tassell (tenor/alto sax); Khary Abdul-Shahid (drums)

There is a magic that happens when the music, the mood and the moment are just right. So, sit back - with your dreams and someone special - and let these songs unlock a special connection. Join in for some LateNights.

A pleasant 23 minutes of standards ideal to accompany the above scenario lifted from the blurb. Schrader handles them in his relaxed style and I can well imagine him going down well in intimate cocktail lounges, if such places still exist, rather than out and out jazz clubs.

The supporting quartet provide sympathetic backing with pleasing solos from sax and piano with bass and drums providing the sealant.

Although the playing time is short it, nevertheless, seems just right. Lance

1. Time After Time (Jule Styne ) 4:36;  2. I Wish I Knew (Harry Warren) 4:08; 3. It’s All Right With Me (Cole Porter) 2:41; 4. It Never Entered My Mind (Richard Rogers ) 3:27; 5. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars/Corcovado (Antonio Carlos Jobim) 2:52; 6. You Do Something to Me (Cole Porter) 1:44; 7. Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael) 4:10

1 comment :

Hugh said...

Looks as though he has had (or perhaps I have had) one too many cocktails from that picture!!

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