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

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.

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

Monday, December 17, 2012

Liverpool's First International Jazz Festival.

The Capstone Theatre is delighted to announce a new International Jazz Festival to launch from 28th February 3rd March 2013, in Liverpool - the UK’s music capital.  For a full four days the Liverpool International Jazz Festival and the Capstone Theatre will come alive to the sounds of Roller Trio, Led Bib, Robert Mitchell,Kit Downes Quintet, Denys Baptiste's Triumvirate and Courtney Pine to name a few highlights, and all under one roof.
Some of the finest names on the national and international jazz scene are set to demonstrate that the spirit of jazz is still swingin’ and jumpin’ in Liverpool and some programmed events are absolutely free.
In the short time since its opening in 2010, The Capstone Theatre has established itself as the city's leading venue for cutting edge jazz and world music.  This new festival is going all out to showcase original and innovative instrumental sounds from an array of high profile artists to satisfy the genre lovers and to introduce the fascinating world of jazz to a whole new generation of music fanatics.
The Capstone Theatre’s Neil Campbell said 'The Festival will be the first of its kind in Liverpool and will give the opportunity to bring together some of the most high profile national and international artists alongside some of the City's most creative local jazz musicians. Since beginning its ongoing series of jazz concerts two years ago, starting with a concert by sax legend Courtney Pine, The Capstone has staged concerts by some of the most interesting and excellent international jazz artists including Dennis Rollins, Neil Cowley, Zoe Rahman, Martin Taylor, Gwilym Simcock, Lighthouse, Jah Wobble, Stacey Kent, Kairos 4tet, Tigran, Eduardo Niebla, Phronesis, Portico Quartet and Tommy Smith. I think that through The Capstone's programme, Merseyside audiences are being given the opportunity to experience world class musicians who otherwise would not have performed in the City.'
Thursday 28th February will see the festival open in smooth style with Roller Trio. Described by BBC’s Radio’sGilles Peterson as “Dark, menacing, bass heavy – the new sound of UK jazzzzzzz” .On 1st March, just as the weekend arrives Led Bib, one of the original torch bearers for the revitalized young British jazz scene –a maverick jazz band and an unlikely rock quintet will be headlining the second day of the festival. The third day of the festival will not be slowing down as composer, teacher and pianist Robert Mitchell, a throwback to that powerful tradition of artistic mastery in pursuit of transcendence, takes to the stage, followed by the Kit Downes Quintet, the dark and detailed, colorful and chaotic new project from UK pianist and composer Kit Downes.
Sunday 3rd March will see London Jazz artist Denys Baptiste performing with his new trio Triumvirate. Consisting of double bassist Larry Bartley and drummer Moses Boyd, Triumvirate take quality songs of the recent past - think Gnarls Barkley's Crazy and D'Angelo's Brown Sugar - and reinterpret them in trio format to present familiar material in an unfamiliar way.
The Festival will culminate in a final concert by jazz legend Courtney Pine, who returns to The Capstone with his phenomenal House of Legends TourAn inspirational icon to many young, upcoming musicians, Courtney is known extensively for this saxophone and clarinet mastery however he is a multi-instrumentalist who is also able to play the flute, and keyboard. Awarded an OBE in 2000 and a CBE in 2009 Courtney’s other accolade is his appearance in a jazz quartet in an episode of Doctor Who! The jazz maestro launched The Capstone's jazz programme back in 2010 with a sell-out performance and this concert promises to be something very special.
No festival in Liverpool would be complete without the very best in native talent and the Liverpool International Jazz Festival is no exception.  Supporting these jazz supremos will also be a series of free performances by Liverpool jazz musicians, including Blind Monk Trio, Martin Smith’s The Weave, Perri and Neil Quartet, White Canvasand GORP.
Exclusive to the Liverpool International Jazz Festival, The Capstone Theatre and specialist woodwind retailer Curly Woodwind will present two free saxophone workshops and masterclasses. The first will see renowned saxophone recording artist, author and composer Pete Thomas, alongside legendary sax stars Bobby Wellins and Tony Kofi, discuss how to achieve the best sound on your instrument. The second class will see professional saxophonist, consultant and teacher Graeme Turner offer the very best advice on how to improvise effectively.
Liverpool’s newest music event, the Liverpool International Jazz Festival is set to become an annual event with the Capstone Theatre at its very heart.  More information can be found on www.thecapstonetheatre.com
Follow us on facebook @Liverpool International Jazz Festival and twitter @LpoolJazzFest
LISTING INFORMATION
Roller Trio
Thursday 28th February 2013, 7.30pm
£12.50
Martin Smith’s The Weave
Thursday 28th February 2013, 10pm
Free admission
Led Bib
Friday 1st March, 7.30pm
£12.50
GORP
Friday 1st March, 10pm
Free admission
Robert Mitchell
Saturday 2nd March, 2pm
£10
White Canvas
Saturday 2nd March, 4.30pm
Free admission
Kit Downes Quintet
Saturday 2nd March, 7.30pm
£12.50
Perri and Neil Quartet
Saturday 2nd March, 10pm
Free admission
Denys Baptiste’s Triumvirate
Sunday 3rd March, 3pm
£12.50
Blind Monk Trio
Sunday 3rd March, 5.30pm
Free admission
Courtney Pine House of Legends
Sunday 3rd March, 8pm
£17.50
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS LISTINGS
Taming the Saxophone - Tone Production
Sunday 3rd March,
11:00
How to Improvise Effectively
Sunday 3rd March,
12:30
HOW TO BOOK
In person: TicketQuarter, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RG.
Ticket Quarter Box Office: 0844 8000 410*or online at www.thecapstonetheatre.com*

*Subject to booking fee.

The Capstone TheatreShaw Street,
Liverpool
L6 1HP
FESTIVAL PASSES
Available online at Liverpool Hope University’s online store at http://store.hope.ac.uk.
PASSES - £65 - As a festive treat, we are offering a 10% discount on all Festival Passes purchased before 10th January 2013.

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