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

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

A Grecian Trilogy - Plunging Swedes and a Couple of Festivals

Vasilis Xenopoulos returns to the region on Thursday for 3 unmissable gigs.
The saga unfolds on Thursday at Blaydon Jazz Club a.k.a. Blaydon CIU Club, Garden St., Blaydon, where the Grecian tenor saxist weaves his magic alongside the Paul Edis Trio. Act One commences at 8:30pm.
On Friday, 'Vasy' is at Saltburn Jazz Club - again with PET. This is a 7:30pm curtain call.
Saturday sees him at the first Musicon Durham Jazz Festival held in St Chad's College, Durham City. Again with PET and again 7:30pm start. This one is free and there is also an afternoon workshop.
Not that this week is totally Greek. Tonight, the Swedish trio Plunge are at the Central Bar, Gateshead in a JNE/On The Outside presentation. 8:30pm start.
Also tonight the Customs House Big Band are at the New Crown Hotel, South Shields for their monthly open rehearsal followed by a free concert. 7:30pm. As an added attraction, Ruth Lambert will be providing the vocal candy.
More vocals on Friday at the Musicon Festival from Durham based American singer Sandi Russell. With Sandi is the John Horler Trio and saxophone supremo Alan Barnes.
Sunday afternoon - still at the Musicon - guitarist John Etheridge gives a solo recital.
Wondering how you're going to fit it all in? Well I've got news for you - there's more!
Running concurrently yet independently is the Great North Big Band Festival over in Sunderland.
This is at The Bonded Warehouse on Friday and at Sunderland University, North Shore, Charles St., Sunderland on Saturday and Sunday.
Looks like a busy time ahead.
Lance.
PS: Oh yes and don't let's forget the magnificent Osian Roberts/Steve Fishwick Quintet at Darlington Arts Centre on Friday evening. 8:00pm for some brilliant hard bop.
PPS: If your tastes are a little more pre-historic then the Millenium Eagle Jazz Band are at Jazz at the Fell's new home - the Gateshead British Legion Club, 142 Coatsworth Rd. This is also on Friday night - the jazziest night of the year so far in these parts!

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