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

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Krzysztof Urbanski @ The Bridge

Krzysztof Urbanski (alt/pno); John Pope (bs); Dave McKeague (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
Back in the 1960s a Polish modern jazz quartet led by Zbigniew Namyslowski played a memorable session at the old New Orleans Club on Forth Banks. That was a night that subsequently became legendary and the class of the Polish jazzmen can be heard on the very rare LP recorded around that time - Lola.
Despite this and since then, Polish jazz musicians haven't been at the top of my listening lists.
Tonight all that changed! Tonight may well also become the stuff of legend!
Krzysztof Urbanski, a Polish tenor/alto man, blew some wonderful music that thrilled the pathetically under-subscribed room. What's wrong with you guys/gals who call yourself fans? This was sax playing at its best and you missed it! 
Why weren't you all there?
However, 'Tis Autumn in Newcastle and I'm sure the excuses will be made...
So what you lot missed was the  big, pure sound and the awesome technique that led into On Green Dolphin St. The blues tribute to Billie Holiday that sounded a little like Goodbye. Tenor playing of the first order.
All The Things You Are and the most wonderful version of Sophisticated Lady this side of Ellington were just some of the numbers that helped to make this the night that it was. Urbanski also blew some sizzling alto that fanned the flames and kept the fire burning.
Behind him, John Pope was his usual tower of strength shouldering the burden of providing the harmonic foundation admirably and full marks to Splinter for providing him with the facility to host tonight's session. On drums, McKeague,  a little tentative at first, did what was necessary and the overall feel amongst the few listeners present was one of sheer enjoyment.
This young Polish saxman, who is currently based in Thirsk, is surely going places!
Tremendous !
Lance.

1 comment :

Lance said...

I left the Bridge on a high last night but was soon on a low when I tripped and fell over a raised paving stone! A visit to A and E this morning revealed nothing broken - still bloody painful though.

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