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

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

Friday, September 03, 2010

Maine Street Jazzmen @ Ashington Jazz Club Wed. Sept 1.

The Club came alive with the sound of music on Wednesday with our genre of good Jazz presented to us by Herbie Hudson’s Maine Street Jazzmen plus the ever effervescent Olive.
On hearing the first bar of music we realized it was to be a great evening and throughout, the audience of 50 responded enthusiastically to each melody and individual solo performance.
The rhythm section of Alan Rudd, ably assisted by Scotty Adair and supported on keyboard by Malcolm Armstrong, was brilliant and the interplay between all three musicians demonstrated the excellent understanding they had with each other and the good time they were having.
The front line of Jim McBriarty , Ray Harley and Herbie blended together in absolute harmony creating sympathetic and exciting improvisations richly deserving the adoration which followed each performance.The inimitable Olive sang energetically with humour in her pleasing style and personality when introducing new numbers to us with How'd ya like to love me and How could you leave me now, to name a few. A poignant moment came during the bands rendition of Buddy Bolden’s Blues when Herbie made reference to Jackie Denton (RIP) during the lyrics. We remember Jackie as a good friend of this Club in our early years with the River City Jazzmen. The members applauded this tribute.
Other tunes in a varied repertoire were as follows :-Nobody’s Sweetheart, Buddy’s Habits, Blue Skies, Moose March, Louisiana , You Can Depend On Me, Is it True What They Say About Dixie, Darktown Strutters Ball, Just a Little While, That’s a Plenty, Jackass Blues, South Rampart Street Parade, a Japanese number which I can’t spell (Nagasaki?) and Bourbon Street Parade.
A final comment from a member at the end of the night was “It doesn’t get much better than this” and we would all agree to that. It is so obvious that this popular and active group work so well together and enjoy each others company. Their energy and enthusiasm relates directly to an appreciative audience. Long may it continue.
Peter S.

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