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

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Viva Budvivar - Boppin' at the Chilli.

Budvivar: Stuart Findon, Fiona Littlewood (ten), Chris Finch (pno), Eddie Nickson (gtr), Jim Crinson (bs), Eric Stutt (dms), Debra Milne (vcls). ----- Take It To The Bridge: Dave Weisser (tpt/vcls), Darren Grainger (ten), Barry Ashcroft (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), Mathew ? (gtr), Eric Stutt or Ian Forbes (dms). -----
Budvivar served up another potent mix tonight. Bebop anthems; "Tunisia", "Round Midnight", "Well You Needn't". Standards; "Love Me Or Leave Me", "Beautiful Love", "There Will Never Be Another You". Blues; "Fine and Mellow" and a few more.
"Mellow" began with an atmospheric guitar blast from Eddie that said 'You want misery and pain? you got it!' This launched Debra into the role of a mistreated woman as portrayed by Billie Holiday. Meanwhile, Chris - not to be outdone - delivered some classic blues piano.
"All The Things You Are" showed the two tenors off to perfection with Stuart, who'd earlier sat in on a couple of numbers with TITTB, blowing like Dexter and Fiona staying with him â la Wardell - the girl gets better each time round. They, Budvivar, should be heard more often.
The night began with Dave and co augmented by Stuart and Mathew, a young guitarist making his Chilli debut. Mathew, I think, is one of Mark Williams' proteges and he certainly showed promise despite being armed only with an unamplified steel strung acoustic. One to watch.
Dave demonstrated 'The Stockade Shuffle" - a movement he presumably learned as a G.I. Blowingwise, he hit the spot on Bill Evans' "Perry's Scope"
Later Ian Forbes sat in for a knockout version of a Barry Ashcroft original - "Mr Rascal."
Incidentally, Jim Crinson played all three sets.
Another good one.
Lance.

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