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.

Thursday, January 01, 2026

Album review: Vance Thompson - Lost and Found (Moondo Music)

Vance Thompson (vibes); Taber Gable (piano); Steve Kovalcheck (guitar); Tommy Sauter (bass); Marcus Finnie (drums)

A triumph over adversity is perhaps a good way to describe Lost and Found, Vance Thompson's first album as a leader in over 10 years. A Grammy nominated trumpet player his career had seemingly come to an end when the effects of a neurological disorder, Focal Dystonia, made trumpet playing at the high level he was used to no longer attainable.

Not to be outdone he transferred his widely recognised jazz chops to the vibraphone, the result being this delightful album of swinging modern jazz.

An album that brings together five top musicians who seemingly think as one and despite three of them playing chordal instruments the harmonies don't clash.

Six Thompson originals plus Donald Brown's My Three Suns, Chick Corea's Bud Powell and Harold Arlen's good old good one Over the Rainbow. The latter tune, laid back and reflective, is a bit like MJQ with feeling.

Available Jan. 16 via usual suspects. Lance  

Tell it Like it is; The Thread of All Sorrows; Mixed Feeling; Sleight of Hand; Bud Powell; The Ladies at Rose Cottage;My Three Suns; Over the Rainbow
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