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, December 17, 2010

A couple of things to look forward to at Blaydon.

Well, last night may have been a low point at Blaydon - the cancellation of Roy Williams with the Blaydon Jazz Quartet and the always popular Christmas Party was a bummer which ever way you look at it. However, the future holds at least two good gigs out in Sticksville (my little joke) to look forward to even if we have to wait till March by which time the weather will, we hope, have improved.
March 3 sees the return of that θαυμάσιος tenor player VASILIS XENOPOULOS. Vasi is in the region for a few days so expect to see him elsewhere but he will be at Blaydon first so that if you dig him (and who doesn't?) you can also catch him at other venues.
March 10 - no one man could follow Vasi so Roly, sensibly, booked 16 men and a girl! - The CUSTOMS HOUSE BIG BAND with RUTH LAMBERT.
Make a note in your diaries.
Lance.

4 comments :

Milov Watson said...

I was a bit surprised to see you using Greek fonts on the Blaydon Jazz Club preview, did you know that his name translates roughly as King Strangebird.
I wish you Euqumo Xristougenna kai Kalos Xronov sthn Tzaz.

Milov

Lance said...

Thank you for that Grecian Greeting Milov - it reminds me of the time a guy was talking to me in the pub about the Greek economy and it's effect on the Greek workforce.
I was bored to tears so, in an attempt to inject some levity into the conversation, I said, "all those Bouzouki players out of work eh?"
"Oh yes", he replied, "Sport will be effected."

Elaine said...

Thanks for the mention Lance.
I'm not sure about your description of the Customs House Big Band plus Ruth Lambert as "16 men and A girl" is entirely accurate!

Lance said...

Whoops! I must get my eyes tested!Apologies to Jill, yourself and the other lasses who pop in and out of the baritone and second tenor chair.

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