Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

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

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Corner House, Heaton - "What's the Big Idea?" - Read on...

...it's a beat-up Continental headin' for the Motor City, a 64 wheel rig out on Highway 61. A Greyhound bus, maybe somewhere in the Ozarks, it's a souped-up black, Pontiac Sedan.
Just a few of the images conjured up by the musical juggernaut that is Gerry Richardson's Big Idea. Nine pieces of funky soul that manage to sound like twenty-nine and counting.
Gerry leads from the front on a Hammond B3 (is it?) out-smokin' just about every organist around - he makes Brother Jack McDuff sound like Jack McDuff's brother. He throws in a few Mose Allisonic vocals - Tom Waits with class.
The pot is kept on the boil by Rod Sinclair's guitar blasts and the relentless drive of Paul Smith on drums - his solo in the final number was something else.
The horns all hit the right groove. Sue Ferris on bari, tenor and flute, Stuart Johnson, tenor/soprano, Gary Linsley, alto, Mark Webb & Dave Highnote (Hignett) trumpets and Keith Norris trombone.
Although it is unfair to signal anyone out, I do think Sue's flute playing deserves a special mention for the tonal contrast it brings to the section and because she's prettier than the rest.
Great night. Photos.
Enjoyed meeting up with some old friends in the form of the portly Andy Hudson and the ever elegant Germaine Stanger.
Lance.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

I couldn't agree more about Sue's flute playing.She can find her way around the baritone,too.

Stuart Johnson continues to impress taking a scorching soprano solo and later on he added a similar contribution on tenor.

Agreed,a great night.

Russell

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