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

Friday, July 31, 2009

Marshall Walker R.I.P.

(Sunday)I've just received the very sad news that my friend and former musical colleague, drummer Marshall Walker, died on Friday July 24. Cause of death is, as yet, unknown.
More details when known.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
(Thursday)The funeral will take place at noon on Monday August 3 at Birtley Crematorium. A formal announcement will be made in tonight's (Thursday) Evening Chronicle.
Photos - I've added a few. If you have more please send them to me via Email (lanceliddle@gmail.com.)
Add your personal tributes to the comments below.

8 comments :

Roly said...

Sad news. I have very fond memories of the early years at Blaydon with Marshall, Clem, Bill Smith and best ever landlady Pauline. It's when you look back at those times you realise how special they were.
Roly

Eric.M.Stutt said...

Very sad to hear about Marshy he was a good friend and I liked him and his sense of humour a lot. He wil be sadly missed.
Eric.

Russell said...

Hi Lance

I liked Marshall's dry sense of humour, hang-dog look (Buster Keaton-like) and he could play.

Russell

John Taylor said...

Sorry to hear of the passing of Marshal Walker. A character in the same mould as Derek Dixon (another old timer who is sadly no longer with us).Both unassuming accompanists who were always there for the rest of the band.

laurie brown said...

sorry to hear this Marshall was a
frequent visitor to the Porthole
at one time!

Mike Gilby said...

Fond memories of Marshall - R.I.P. Many a laugh we shared together, another great character exits the bandstand.
Mike.

Germaine said...

So sorry to hear that yet another of the Newcastle musical gang has gone.It's many years since I met Marshall but I remember him as one of the fixtures of the early days.

Anonymous said...

As a kid, I used to see Marshall with The Ronnie MaClean All Stars at The New Orleans Jazz Club Forth Banks, in the band at that time was, Hughie Aitchison (Tpt) Ronnie MaClean (Tbn) Trevor Johnson (Reeds) Brian Fisher (Piano) Tom !!!!!! (Bass) & Marshall Walker (Drums), and as a page boy at the Swallow Hotel I ued to help him put his kit in the lift, when he was playing with the Jimmy Miller Trio, on my trips back to Newcastle, he used to remind me of those days at the hotel, a fine drummer, he will be very much missed on the North East Jazz Scene...

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

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