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

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Sunday's Tribute to Keith

Peter Gilligan has offered a suggestion on how Sunday's Tribute to Keith will run using both floors of the building.
Peter: After some chats it has been discussed that we should have one of my pianos and or guitar upstairs with the singers on rotation, with myself, Alan, or any other accompanist, doing the vocal stuff, and the instrumentalists and bands on rotation downstairs, simultaneously. (this will allow us to cater for all the people and tastes at the same time) I think it would be better if I could actually get some names and structure it slightly so that it doesn't just end up a free for all, although that will of course be an element of it. So for example an incarnation of the safe sextet is going to do a short set last due to there long running service... please state what and with whom you would like to play if possible or whether you just want to jam on any impromptu bits. Thanks this is just a vague attempt at organisation... so please feel free to suggest owt.
It is anticipated the event will run from 2-8pm.

1 comment :

Bill Mills1@btinternet.com said...

As with all of you was deeply saddened by the sad passing og Keith or simply Crombie as he was know to his many friends and aquaintances -I’m not sure if I can make the concert as I may be going offshore but I will happily contribute to the send off fund – Keith was one of my oldest and dearest friends – he bought the fish and chip supper & 2 bottles of Brown Ale at McMorrans Fish Shop in Carliol Square (just up from the Downbeat Club which we frequented and where we ran our own little illicit club after normal hours!) in 1964 when Helen, my late wife & I announced our engagement. (only 2 bottles because he did not think pregnant girls should drink Brown Ale!), drove Helen to our wedding in Billy Keiths Zodiac as he was the only person who knew how to drive an automatic car and personally chaperoned Helen when I was not around!- and he often reminded Helen & I of that during the many many years we worked together in the Garage and Car Sales business Keith & I had – we were the Kings of Dinitrol Rustproofing!!

I last saw him on Sat 8th December 2012 at The Jazz café & he was in his usual fine form – he even bought us (myself, Debs my new partner, and Vicky my daughter who as a child knew Keith as Uncle Keith) a beer before "throwing us out" at around 3am:) on Sunday morning with a promise to visit us in Ford nera Berwick as soon as he could get his driver to "report for long distance duties" ever the acerbic wit - he is and will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.
Wally "Beauregard" Nash & I are discussing a collaborative effort on perhaps a book in memory of Keith & would welcome any co colaborators or contributions - I can be contacted by email billmills1@btinternet.com
Look forward tio perhaps meeting you at the wake or recieving and info commenrts photos of Keith & the "old and not so old days"



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