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

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.

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Geordie Jazz Jam @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Newcastle University jam session. All welcome.
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, 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.

Fri 27: Joe Steels Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT! A Blue Patch album tour.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Radio Hito + Eddie Prévost, Silvain Schmid & Tom Wheatley @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.22., £10.10., £8.00.
Fri 27: Giacomo Smith w Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.
Fri 27: Alan Barnes w. Mick Shoulder Trio @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00. Trio: Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).

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

Monday, October 26, 2009

Martin Drew Comments...

Hi Lance Sincere thanks for your review of this gig (LCD @ The Corner House, Newcastle). Would you mind if I used it on my website, please? Laurence Cottle sent it to me. He's some player isn't he?!! The band only came about originally from a chat I had with Mornington Lockett about travelling about in these days of ridiculous petrol prices!! The three of us can all get in one car, thereby saving the expense of extra gas with extra cars. I instantly knew it would work musically, and it's nice to be vindicated. We really enjoyed the gig, especially as it included a 600 mile plus drive up and back! At my age if I can't enjoy the gig what's the point? Have a look at my website at www.martindrew.co.uk. I'm sure you'll find it interesting. Once again, many thanks and I'll look forward to talking with you either by email, telephone, message in the bottle, etc., etc. Martin Drew. (Photo courtesy of Adrian Tilbrook.)
Click here for free Lawrence Cottle downloads as mentioned in comments.

5 comments :

Lance said...

By all means use the review on your website.
It isn't every day that a member of jazz's upper echelons visit Bebop Spoken Here so feel free.

Liz said...

I remember Martin at York when you, Lance,came to the Early Music Centre with us. He left a big impression on me as a first class musician & a man of the world. I loved his laid back style.
Liz

cptfinch said...

I saw Martin a few weeks ago playin with Alan Barnes at the Darlington Arts centre. Needless to say he was top class! - showing very tasteful light swingin cymbol. A couple of years ago he was at the Caedmon Hall in Gateshead with Peter King. It was a quiet night because a big England game was on at the same time I think. I remember he played some fantastic longer solos.

Liz said...

Had a look at his website...My God, what a pedigree!
Liz

Robert Laing said...

Hi Lance,
Nice to see the response from Martin Drew today. Laurence Cottle is a "friend" of mine on Myspace, so I wrote to him at the weekend to let him know about the glowing reference on your bebop blog. He must have forwarded the email to Martin. It was a great night, certainly one to remember for tenor players, drummers and bassists.
For your own info, and if you want to let other people in on it (especially as the CD for sale at the Corner House did not have any Laurence Cottle on it - but I still bought it and it's a belter) Laurence has TWO cd's that are FREE for download on his website. My personal favourite is the arrangement of "Bouncing with Bud" - the band is top notch and it might be worth sharing this info with your expanding blog fanbase. I suppose Laurence might appreciate it too. The live album really demonstrates the quality of his and the band's musicianship.

Robert (son of George) Laing

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