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 17, 2025

Arts Council England - an independent review by Baroness Margaret Hodge.

(Chris Hodgkins' response.)

The independent review of Arts Council England by Baroness Margaret Hodge can be seen here

The organisations who responded can be seen here: Annex 7: Arts Council England (ACE) Review - Contributors to the Review

I could only spot three jazz organisations who responded - individuals are not disclosed. Lets hope there is a better response for the review of the BBC Charter.

The DCMS states that:  "This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge. These organisations were all invited to provide evidence through a variety of means. This, however, does not mean all attended and provided evidence." This is clearly nonsense as the Parliamentary Jazz Group submitted its response through the consultation process and was not invited to give evidence or attend any meeting.

I shall be making a full response early in the New Year. There is little point in responding now as Parliament will rise shortly -  Friday, 19 December 2025, and return on Monday, 5 January 2026, while the House of Lords rises on Thursday, 18 December 2025, and returns on Monday, 5 January 2026.

The response from the Arts Council England can be seen here and Charlotte Higgins in the Guardian here

There is a strong sense of déjà vu about this review of Arts Council England and  it would appear that little is being done to address the culture of the Arts Council and the complete cockup of their grant funding system Grantium or its proper sobriquet, "Desperandum".

Full response on 7th January 2026. Chris Hodgkins
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