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

Monday, December 08, 2025

Album review: Max Ionata Special Edition - Tivoli (Mingus Records)

Max Ionata (sax)Martin Sjöstedt (piano); Jesper Bodilsen (double bass); Martin Andersen (drums)

To quote the blurb - Italian lyricism meeting the clarity and eloquence of Scandinavian jazz - it more or less sums up this delightful album. Certainly Ionata has lyricism aplenty and the technique to exploit it to the full. I'm not sure if he's blowing alto or tenor, the beautiful tone and the lightness with which it is deployed brought Stan Getz to mind so I guess it's tenor.

The Scandinavian rhythm section brings back memories of those halcyon days when Swedish musicians were the go-getters of 1950s European modern jazz - This trio too know how to swing.

Another quote: At the heart of the album lies a cultural bridge. The title refers both to the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, with its sense of magic and play, and to the historic Italian town of Tivoli near Rome, celebrated for its villas and gardens. These twin inspirations frame the music: wide-open Nordic atmospheres glimmering with Mediterranean warmth and melodic depth.

I can't improve on that!

A mix of originals plus familiar numbers from Kenny Wheeler, Johnny Griffin and Cole Porter make for a most enjoyable album. Lance

Concion Para Sara; Consolation; Det Lysner; Tivoli; Everything I Love; When we Were One; Naru's Waltz; Mr. GT

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