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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17744 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 64 of them this year alone and, so far, 64 this month (Jan. 26).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Old Library, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 12 noon-2:00pm (two sets). £12.00. admission (card or cash at the door). Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums). Note change of venue, no longer at Mrs M’s as advertised, the concert will be in the Old Library (Bishop Auckland Jazz’s regular venue). Important! It’s a ‘BYOB’ arrangement - ie bring your own booze (and/or tea, coffee, soft drinks).
Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:00pm. ‘Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz, Balkan & More!’.
Fri 31: Nothing in Rambling @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00. + bf. Country blues duo.
Fri 31 Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Wylam Institute. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf.
Fri 31: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £10.00 + bf. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.
Fri 31: Alan Barnes Quartet @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £15.00 Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 31: SwanNek + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SwanNek’s new single launch gig. Pilgrim, formerly Hoochie Coochie.
Fri 31: King Bees @ Blues Underground; Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

February 2025

Sat 01: Alan Barnes & John Hallam with the Tom Kincaid Trio @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning - Cy Coleman’s Witchcraft. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 01: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 01: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Rockin’ Turner Brothers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Western swing etc.

Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 02: Jive Aces @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm. Sun 02: John Pope + Andy Champion + Ian Paterson @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Subterranean Explorations 1’. Three (half hour) solo bass sets.
Sun 02: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 03: Andy Watt & Dan Rogers @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance. Jazz, blues, folk etc.
Mon 03: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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 30, 2010

MARTIN DREW DIES.

Sad to report the death of Martin Drew after a heart attack yesterday afternoon.
As late as May this year I heard him at the Kings Head in Crouch End with Simon Spillett, John Critchinson and Andy Cleyndert. He was playing as great as ever and also chatted about the LCD gig at the Corner House with Mornington Lockett and Laurence Cottle. Martin did me the honour of posting my review of that gig on his website.
Previously I'd seen him at York's Early Music Centre with Spillett and Co for another memorable gig (see photo).
But of course my memories of Martin go much further back - the Ronnie Scott Quintet with Dick Pierce, Critch and Ron Mathewson and of course the Peterson years.
Whatever band he played with that band swung like no other. A Grandmaster of his craft.
May he Rest In Peace - sadly missed.
Martin was 66 years old.
Two great drummers within days of each other...
All are invited to add their memories of Martin and Chris.
Lance
Simon Spillett remembers Chris Dagley and Martin Drew.

8 comments :

Dave The Rave said...

Hi Lance:
So sorry to read of the sad demise of drummer Martin Drew, who we met in Dubai in '93 when Jude and I were Key Largo, the lounge duo at the Royal Abjar Hotel. Martin was with the great Ronnie Scott Quartet, who were there to appear at Harry's Place, the Italian restaurant in the hotel, and they did capacity business for three nights running (lots of Brit ex-pats in the audience).
I well remember first meeting Martin, when he sidled up to our little bandstand in the lobby, and grabbed a tambourine and played along with us! While the Quartet played in the restaurant, I was excused from lobby duty to join the restaurant resident quartet, and got to play support for the main attraction (Ronnie and the boys, John Critchinson, Andy Cleyndert and Martin!)
Martin also paid us a social visit, coming to our flat because he was curious about Jude's music programming ability, which he said his daughter was into,and he programmed some great conga rhythms for us on Jude's computer. Later got to talk with him at Appleby, and he was a tremendous player and a nice guy. He wil be missed. Dave the Rave

Liz said...

RIP Martin, thoroughly enjoyed that gig here in York Lance. He was indeed a nice man and of course a fine musician. I remember that, as I watched him, his love of the drums was wonderful to behold
Liz

cptfinch said...

sad to hear that Lance, I saw him at Caedmon hall and chatted with him in the interval. Was a funny guy and amazin on the drums.

shepherdlass said...

RIP Martin: a brilliant musician and a total gent.
Jude x

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Martin was one of the all-time greats.

Russell

Adrian said...

It is indeed a tragic week for the UK drumming community. A double blow with the unusual connection of both having been associated with Ronnie's. I was not an acquaintance of Chris Dagley but I knew of him from seeing him on a few occasions when he played with NYJO. On the other hand I knew Martin quite well and it is such a shame that this great musician is no longer with us.
I have posted a personal piece regarding Martin's passing that you may want to post on BeBop.

Adrian

Roly said...

Just been listening to this on YouTube. I guess you've reached the top when Oscar asks you to join his group.
Creme de la creme as Miss Brodie would say.
Roly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZbSonHGVXc

Eric Stutt said...

So sorry to hear about Martin Drew he was a legend in british drumming his track record is fab Oscar Peterson for one and also the years with Ronnie Scott at his club. I met him at Appleby Jazz Festival and he was very entertaining sitting at our table outside the Royal Oak Pub where the musicians stay, great bloke and told us lots of tales, on his years in USA Buddy Rich in particular which I cannot print here. He will be sadly missed. Thanks for the opportunity to print this Lance . Regards Eric

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