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

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Julian Siegel w. Paul Edis Trio. Highfield Hotel, East Rainton

Julian Siegel (ten/sop), Paul Edis (pno), Mick Shoulder (bs), Adam Sinclair (dms).
This was right up my alley - Allen Eager's too if he'd been alive!
A generous mixture of bop classics ("Moose the Mooche", "Sandu" and a frenetic "Hot House" - played as an encore). Ballads that avoided undue sentimentality ("My One and Only Love", "Yesterdays", We'll Be Together Again"). Freddy Hubbard's delightful waltz "Up Jumped Spring" and Charles Lloyd's Monkish "Sweet Georgia Bright" made for an evening of musical magic.
Although Julian Siegel sailed through the standard changes with ease he did it in such a contemporary manner that even "You and the Night and the Music" sounded as if it could have been written late yesterday afternoon.
Behind him, the Paul Edis Trio were, quite simply, The Paul Edis Trio which translated means as good a trio for this type of gig as you're likely to find anywhere east of Atlantic City.
For the Highfield Hotel it was a first and I'm pleased to say there was a respectable turnout. Not only was the music top class but I've been told that the Thai cuisine is also first rate.
Watch this space. Photos. More.
Lance

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Smashing gig. Very nice venue.
Well done the trio giving great backing to a top class tenor player.
Hope they do more there.
Roly

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

I can do no more than echo your thoughts and those of Roly.A top tenor player whose musical compadres on the evening were more than up to it.Adam showed great invention,Mick,as always,did a sterling job and Paul was full of ideas (as always !).

Full marks to all concerned on putting on the gig - here's hoping it won't be the last at the Highfield Hotel.

Russell

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