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

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Lindsay Hannon Plus in Ernest Tuesday April 23.

Lindsay Hannon (vcl); James Harrison (keys); John Pope (bs); Dave McKeague (dms).
(Review by Lance).
A new entry in the jazz venue list, Ernest is predominantly a student hangout. Understandable given the amount of student accommodation nearby  The ever eager to explore new outlets Lindsay Hannon has set up a weekly Tuesday session which she/we hope will take off.
The girl was in good voice and although without the promised Paul Gowland - he opted for "bread" rather than pizza - it was a good session. A vignette!
The tried and tested repertoire was stuck with and it worked well.
I Wish I Were in Love Again - Larry Hart's immortal line -  the conversation with the flying plates - never fails to raise a smile, Our Love is Here to Stay, God Bless the Child and There Will Never be Another You. This latter piece had an intricate stop start section (possibly inspired by Anita O'Day) that took some choreographing. McKeague missed out on one beat but atoned for it by smiling, twirling his sticks and having a good blast on the later exchange of fours.
Nature Boy moved uptown and up tempo with Harrison's extended solo, Pope's authoritative bass and McKeague's intuitive drumming. The set closed with Willow Weep For Me and You'd be so Nice to Come Home to.
A shorter second set opened with a Horace Silver tune (Cape Verdean Blues?) a wonderful Honeysuckle Rose, In Walked Bud and My Funny Valentine.
An enjoyable evening well worth supporting - next week Clare Kelly.
Lance.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

It's nice to have another jazz gig nearby so I was able to pop in for the final 40 mins. Instead of despairing at the small crowds that turn up at some jazz sessions, it seems like a good strategy to bring to jazz to where there is a crowd already. The music was fine and I caught a couple good interpretations of Joni Mitchell songs, which was a treat. As the guys are doing homages to various musicians, why not a session based around particularly singers, e.g. JM.
The set up in the place was a bit strange as Lyndsay was singing to a virtually empty space while behind a partition there were quite a lot of (not unappreciative) diners and drinkers. Maybe more tables and chairs in with the band?
JC

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